BEAU'S REPLY.

SIR, when I flew to seize the bird
In spite of your command,
A louder voice than yours I heard,
And harder to withstand.

You cried-forbear-but in my breast
A mightier cried-proceed-
'Twas Nature, Sir, whose strong behest
Impell'd me to the deed.

Yet much as nature I respect,
I ventur'd once to break,
(As you, perhaps, may recollect)
Her precept for your sake;

And when your linnet on a day,
Passing his prison door,

Had flutter'd all his strength away,
And panting press'd the floor,

Well knowing him a sacred thing,
Not destin'd to my tooth,

I only kiss'd his ruffled wing,

And lick'd the feathers smooth.

Let my obedience then excuse
My disobedience now,
Nor some reproof yourself refuse
From your aggriev'd Bow-wow;

If killing birds be such a crime,
(Which I can hardly see,)
What think you, Sir, of killing Time
With verse address'd to me?

ANSWER

ΤΟ

Stanzas addressed to Lady Hesketh, by Miss Catha rine Fanshaw, in returning a Poem of Mr. Cowper's lent to her on condition she should neither show it, nor take a copy.

[1793.]

To be remembered thus is fame,
And in the first degree;
And did the few like her the same,
The press might sleep for me.

So Homer, in the mem'ry stor'd
Of many a Grecian belle,
Was once preserv'd—a richer hoard,
But never lodged so well.

ΤΟ

THE SPANISH ADMIRAL,

COUNT GRAVINA,

ON

His translating the Author's Song on a Rose into Italian Verse.

[1793.]

My rose, Gravina, blooms anew,

And, steep'd not now in rain,
But in Castalian streams by You,
Will never fade again.

ON

FLAXMAN'S PENELOPE.

[September, 1793.]

THE suitors sinn'd, but with a fair excuse,
Whom all this elegance might well seduce;
Nor can our censure on the husband fall,
Who, for a wife so lovely, slew them all.

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

TO MARY.

[Autumn of 1793.]

THE twentieth year is well nigh past
Since first our sky was overcast,

Ah would that this might be the last!

My Mary!

Thy spirits have a fainter flow,

I see them daily weaker grow—

'Twas my distress that brought thee low,

My Mary!

Thy needles, once a shining store,
For my sake restless heretofore,
Now rust disus'd, and shine no more,

My Mary!

For though thou gladly wouldst fulfil
The same kind office for me still,
Thy sight now seconds not thy will,

My Mary!

But well thou play'dst the housewife's part,
And all thy threads, with magick art,
Have wound themselves about this heart,

Thy indistinct expressions seem

Like language utter'd in a dream;

My Mary!

Yet me they charm, whate'er the theme,

My Mary!

Thy silver locks once auburn bright,
Are still more lovely in my sight
Than golden beams of orient light,

For could I view nor them nor thee,
What sight worth seeing could I see?
The sun would rise in vain for me,

Partakers of thy sad decline,
Thy hands their little force resign;
Yet gently prest, press gently mine,

Such feebleness of limbs thou prov'st,
That now at every step thou mov'st,

My Mary!

My Mary!

My Mary!

Upheld by two, yet still thou lov'st,

My Mary!

And still to love, though prest with ill,

In wintry age to feel no chill,

With me is to be lovely still,

My Mary!

But ah! by constant heed I know,

How oft the sadness that I show,

Transforms thy smiles to looks of wo,

My Mary!

And should my future lot be cast

With much resemblance of the past,

Thy worn-out heart will break at last,

My Mary!