TO MISS AURELIA C--R, ON HER WEEPING AT HER SISTER'S WEDDING. CEASE, fair Aurelia, cease to mourn, With Love united Hymen stands, SONNET. WHEN Phoebe form'd a wanton smile, Strange, that thy peace, thou trembler, flies. From 'midst the drops, my love is born, Thus issued from a teeming wave 5 5 SONG. THE SENTIMENTS BORROWED FROM SHAKESPEARE. YOUNG Damon of the vale is dead, Ye lowly hamlets, moan; A dewy turf lies o'er his head, And at his feet a-stone. His shroud, which Death's cold damps destroy, 5 Of snow white threads was made: All mourn'd to see so sweet a boy In earth for ever laid. Pale pansies o'er his corpse were placed, But will he ne'er return, whose tongue Could tune the rural lay? peace Ah, no! his bell of is rung, His lips are cold as clay. 10 15 VARIATION. Ver. 2. Ye lowland hamlets, moan; They bore him out at twilight hour, Ah, me! how many a true love shower Each maid was woe-but Lucy chief, Within his grave she dropp'd in grief, 20 ON OUR LATE TASTE IN MUSIC. Quid vocis modulamen inane juvabat MILTON. BRITONS! away with the degenerate pack ! a No music once could charm you like your own, Then tuneful Robinson, and Tofts were known; Then Purcell touch'd the strings, while numbers hung Attentive to the sounds-and blest the song! a Now Countess-dowager of Peterborough. 9 14 Nor yet, while guardian Phoebus gilds our isle, Does heaven averse await the muses' toil; Cherish but once our worth of native race, The sister-arts shall soon display their face! Even half discouraged through the gloom they strive, 20 25 Smile at neglect, and o'er oblivion live. d 30 Discard soft nonsense in a slavish tongue, The strain insipid, and the thought unknown; From truth and nature form the unerring test; 35 Be what is manly, chaste, and good the best! 'Tis not to ape the songsters of the groves, Through all the quiverings of their wanton loves. 'Tis not the enfeebled thrill, or warbled shake, The heart can strengthen, or the soul awake! 40 b Vauxhall. • Vide the Spectator's Letters from Camilla, vol. vi. d Milton's Comus lately revived. |