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SONNET,

ADDRESSED TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ.

HAYLEY-thy tenderness fraternal shown
In our first interview, delightful guest!
To Mary, and me for her dear sake distress'd,
Such as it is, has made my heart thy own,
Though heedless now of new engagements grown ;
For threescore winters make a wintry breast,
And I had purposed ne'er to go in quest
Of friendship more, except with God alone.
But thou hast won me; nor is God my foe,
Who, ere this last afflictive scene began,
Sent thee to mitigate the dreadful blow,
My brother, by whose sympathy I know
Thy true deserts infallibly to scan,

Not more to admire the bard than love the man,
June 2, 1792.

AN EPITAPH.

HERE lies one who never drew
Blood himself, yet many slew;
Gave the gun its aim, and figure
Made in field, yet ne'er pull'd trigger.

Armed men have gladly made
Him their guide, and him obey'd;
At his signified desire

Would advance, present, and fire—
Stout he was, and large of limb,
Scores have fled at sight of him!
And to all this fame he rose
Only following his nose.

Neptune was he call'd, not he
Who controls the boisterous sea,
But of happier command,
Neptune of the furrow'd land;
And, your wonder vain to shorten,
Pointer to Sir John Throckmorton.
1792.

ON RECEIVING HAYLEY'S PICTURE.

IN language warm as could be breathed or penn'd
Thy picture speaks the original, my friend,
Not by those looks that indicate thy mind--
They only speak thee friend of all mankind;
Expression here more soothing still I see,
That friend of all a partial friend to me.
January, 1793.

ON A PLANT OF VIRGIN'S BOWER.

DESIGNED TO COVER A GARDEN-SEAT.

THRIVE, gentle plant! and weave a bower
For Mary and for me,

And deck with many a splendid flower,
Thy foliage large and free.

Thou camest from Eartham, and wilt shade (If truly I divine)

Some future day the illustrious head

Of him who made thee mine.

Should Daphne show a jealous frown,
And envy seize the bay,

Affirming none so fit to crown

Such honour'd brows as they,

Thy cause with zeal we shall defend,
And with convincing power;

For why should not the virgin's friend
Be crown'd with virgin's bower?
Spring of 1793.

ON RECEIVING HEYNE'S VIRGIL.

FROM MR. HAYLEY.

I SHOULD have deem'd it once an effort vain
To sweeten more sweet Maro's matchless strain,
But from that error now behold me free,
Since I received him as a gift from thee.
Oct. 1793.

STANZAS,

ADDRESSED TO LADY HESKETH, BY A LADY.

In returning a Poem of Mr. Cowper's, lent to the Writer, on condition she should neither show it nor take a copy.

What wonder if my wavering hand

Had dared to disobey,

When Hesketh gave a harsh command,

And Cowper led astray.

Then take this tempting gift of thine,

By pen uncopied yet!

But canst thou Memory confine,

Or teach me to forget?

More lasting than the touch of art,

Her characters remain ;

When written by a feeling heart

On tablets of the brain.

COWPER'S REPLY.

To be remember'd thus is fame,

And in the first degree;

And did the few, like her, the same,
The press might rest for me.

So Homer, in the mem'ry stor❜d
Of many a Grecian belle,
Was once preserved-a richer hoard,

But never lodged so well.

LINES ADDRESSED TO MISS THEODORA JANE
COWPER.

WILLIAM was once a bashful youth,
His modesty was such,

That one might say, to say the truth,
He rather had too much.

Some said that it was want of sense,
And others, want of spirit,
(So blest a thing is impudence,)
While others could not bear it.

But some a different notion had,
And at each other winking,
Observed, that though he little said,
He paid it off with thinking.
Howe'er, it happen'd, by degrees,
He mended, and grew perter,
In company was more at ease,
And dress'd a little smarter;

VOL. VIII.

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