Oh! born to sooth distress, and lighten…

Oh! born to sooth distress, and lighten care; Lively as soft, and innocent as fair; Blest with that sweet simplicity of thought So rarely found, and never to be taught; Of winning speech, endearing, artless, kind, The loveliest pattern of a female mind; Like some fair spirit from the realms of rest With all her native heaven within her breast; So pure, so good, she scarce can guess at sin, But thinks the world without like that within; Such melting tenderness, so fond to bless, Her charity almost becomes excess. Wealth may be courted, wisdom be rever'd, And beauty prais'd, and brutal strength be fear'd; But goodness only can affection move; And love must owe its origin to love.