English poem
Song. From the French of Cardinal Bernis
by Charlotte Smith (1749–1806)
Fruit of Aurora's tears, fair rose, On whose soft leaves fond Zephyrs play, Oh! queen of flow'rs, thy buds disclose, And give thy fragrance to the day; Unveil thy transient charms:—ah, no! A little be thy bloom delay'd, Since the same hour that bids thee blow Shall see thee droop thy languid head.
But go! and on Themira's breast Find, happy flow'r, thy throne and tomb; While, jealous of a fate so blest, How shall I envy thee thy doom! Should some rude hand approach thee there, Guard the sweet shrine thou wilt adorn; Ah! punish those who rashly dare, And for my rivals keep thy thorn.
Love shall himself thy boughs compose, And bid thy wanton leaves divide; He'll shew thee now, my lovely rose, To deck her bosom, not to hide: And thou shalt tell the cruel maid How frail are Youth and Beauty's charms, And teach her, ere her own shall fade, To give them to her lover's arms.
More by Charlotte Smith
- Elegy. (`DARK gath'ring clouds involve the threat'ning skies)
- Ode to Despair. From the Novel of Emmeline
- Origin of Flattery
- Peasant of the Alps. From the Novel of Celestina
- Sonnet I (he partial Muse, has from my…)
- Sonnet II (THE garlands fade that Spring so…)
- Sonnet III (POOR melancholy bird—that all night long…)
- Sonnet IV (QUEEN of the silver bow!—by thy…)