Albina

Wou'd genius to my fond demand My earnest bold request bestow, A vivid pencil to this hand, Dipt in the brilliant vernal bow:

How eager wou'd I then engage (With faithful and unerring aim) To paint on the poetic page Albina's elegance of frame!

Her tresses—dark with auburn hue: Her brow serene—young Candour's throne: Her timid eye—whose languid blue Sheds charms peculiarly its own.

Her cheek—that wears a lively glow: Not after the fresh morning show'r Can Italy's rich summer shew, On all her banks, so bright a flow'r.

Her cherry lip—inviting bliss, Where Love deliciously reposes, Accompanied by many a kiss On fragrant leaves of breathing roses.

Yet who can paint her beauteous mind! There Innocence has fix'd her seat; There easy wit, and taste refin'd, And sentiment and knowledge meet.

Love, who oft whelms the fair in woe, Soon robb'd her guiless mind of rest: Affection's flame dissolved the snow That lodg'd within her spotless breast.

As still the East the morn-beams streak And gild the portal of the Day, So did her morning thought still break On the same Youth with Ardor's ray:

As the last glimm'rings of the sky Pause on the lake, ere they expire, Each night her thought (as clos'd her eye) Died on the Youth of her desire.

The nuptials eager to profane The bold unfeeling, treach'rous Youth, Led the chaste Maiden to the fane With all the mockery of truth.

There a domestic in disguise The office of a priest supplied; While the deceiver, led by Vice, Religion's dread reproach defied.

Hypocrisy with down-cast air, Profaness with an atheist eye, And lust with a malignant leer, Remark'd the mock-connubial tie.

No sooner had the youth prevail'd, Successful in his impious aim, He left the drooping fair assail'd By Grief, by Infamy, and Shame.

'Twas then the beauteous mourner woo'd Meek Quiet in her lonely seat, Where Competency watchful strew'd Her sober treasures at her feet.

I'll not the little pathway tell That winds to thy sequester'd scene; Where Virtue loves with thee to dwell, Remote—unseeing and unseen.

Where Resignation takes her stand, Prompt to perform her friendly part, And gathers with a trembling hand, The Fragments of a Broken Heart.