Lines[3]

Written in a beautiful Spot,

THE FAVOURITE RETREAT OF DELIA.

Streams ever limpid, fresh, and clear, Where Delia’s charms renew’d appear, Ye flow’rs that touch’d her snowy breast, Ye trees whereon she lov’d to rest, Ye scenes adorn’d where’er she flies, If grief shall close these woe-worn eyes, May some kind form, with hand benign, My body with this earth enshrine, That, when the fairest nymph shall deign To visit this delightful plain, That, when she views my silent shade, And marks the change her love has made, The tear may tremble down her face, As show’rs the lily’s leaves embrace; Then, like the infant at the breast, That feels a sorrow unexprest, That pang shall gentle Delia know, And silent treasure up her woe.

I am indebted to Petrarch for some of the imagery contained in these Lines.

VALENTINE VERSES,

Sent to my young Friend, Miss Emma Trevelyan,

OF WALLINGTON-HOUSE, NORTHUMBERLAND.

Emma! ’tis early time for thee To hear the sounds of minstrelsy, That breathe around the rosy shrine Of honest old Saint Valentine.

Too young art thou for strains of love; ’Tis not thy passion I would move; Instead of lover’s strains, I send The cordial wishes of a friend.

Nobly has Nature done her duty, To give thee of thy mother’s beauty So large a share—oh! then be thine The mental charms that in her shine!

And may thy father’s taste refin’d Still add new graces to thy mind; And may’st thou to each charm impart The gen’rous frankness of his heart.

Then, my sweet Emma! thou shall move In many a heart more genuine love Than ever warm’d poetic line, Or sigh’d in any Valentine.