Page images
PDF
EPUB

E'en now, though lovely beams the lunar ray,

Through quivering branches, on thy grave so green :

No villager benighted dares to stray

To that sad spot; for Fancy there has been

So scar'd, as stories go, that she hath seen

At midnight's silent hour, in vesture white,

A shadowy wand'rer of unearthly mien,

Whose hollow groans the passenger affright,

And hurry through the gloom of Winter's lonely night.

A POETICAL EPISTLE

ΤΟ

A

L

In life's gay morn, when pleasing dreams

Of Love, and such romantic themes;

With shady groves, and purling streams

Delight thy sex;

While hopes, and fears, and endless schemes

Their minds perplex;

Wilt thou, fair Anna, condescend

To listen to an humble friend,

Who, doom'd with ceaseless toil to wend

Life's thorny way;

Presumes, though fearing to offend,

To frame a Lay.

A simple Lay! which critic's ear,

With cool disdain would surely hear;

But which, address'd to friend sincere,

Though quaint in style ;

May gain the meed to Friendship dear,

The approving smile.

Not mine the lot of happier Bard,

Whose loftier verse has nobly dared

To emulate the high reward

The wreath of Fame!

Who on Parnassus' Mount hath shared

A Poet's name.

[blocks in formation]

Hast thou forgot, my Friend! the hour,

[blocks in formation]

The noble Douglas, truly great,

With Royal James, "whose will was fate,”

Who left his court and regal state

In form a Knight;

Hope, fear, and joy, by turns create,

A wild delight.

But chief, fair Ellen! honour's child,

Ingenuous, noble, cheerful, mild;

Queen of the fairy scene so wild,

And Malcolm Graeme,

The gallant youth on whom she smil'd,

Our interest claim.

Such themes as these, my friend, could cheat

The flight of time, when, pleas'd to meet,

And spend an hour, alas, how fleet!

Around the urn,

To talk, to read, to laugh, to eat,

Each in their turn.

« PreviousContinue »