Lines

WRITTEN ON DELIA, LISTENING TO HER CANARY-BIRD.

When thoughtless Delia unconcern’d surveys Her plumy captive, as he leans to sing, Lo! while she smiles, the fascination stays The little heaven of its airy wing.

Ah! so she tastes the sorrows I impart, Smiles at the sound, but never feels my pain; And many a glance deludes my captive heart To sigh in numbers, tho’ I sigh in vain!

THE HECTIC.

Upon the breezy cliff’s impending brow, With trembling step, the Hectic paus’d awhile; As round his wasted form the sea-breeze blew, His flush’d cheek brighten’d with a transient smile:

Refresh’d and cherish’d by its balmy breath, He dreamt of future bliss, of years to come; Whilst, with a look of woe, the spectre, Death, Oft shook his head, and pointed to his tomb.

Such sounds as these escap’d his lab’ring breast:— “Sweet Health! thou wilt revisit this sad frame; Slumber shall bid these aching eyelids rest, And I shall live for love, perchance for fame.” Ah! poor enthusiast!—in the day’s decline A mournful knell was heard, and it was thine!

VERSES TO MISS M. G——,

ACCOMPANIED WITH A DRIED HELIOTROPE,

Which she had presented to the Author a Year before.

Time, since thou gav’st this flow’r to me, Has often turn’d his glass of sand; Perchance ’tis now unknown to thee That once its breath perfum’d thy hand.

Oh, lovely maid! that thou may’st see How much thy gifts my care engage, I’ve sent the cherish’d flow’r to thee Without a blemish, but from age.

Kiss but its leaves;—one kiss from thee, And all its sweetness ’twill regain; And, if I live in memory Thus honour’d, send it back again!