Once more from cities proud, Tired of their moiling crowd, But not, as erst, shall I Amid your beauties sigh, Fair to my gladden'd eyes Will every object rise, As through your well known haunts I rove along; For I shall not deplore, Nor teach your echoes more Sad were indeed those days When, flying man's rude gaze, Then nor the woodland strains Nor verdure-vested plains Nor gales odorous nor bright landscapes charm'd. Then, misery's chosen child, I sought your loneliest wild, Where stole the brook, scarce heard its murmurs And, stretch'd on dewy earth, [faint; I cursed my hour of birth, Sad were those days indeed ! But soon my pastoral reed, For now the clouds are pass'd That long my life o'ercast; Yes, here your gloomy reign Ends, O long-cherish'd train Of moody thoughts and soul-depressing cares; For me Ianthe wreaths A myrtle crown, and breathes [prayers. Soft rapturous sighs, fond vows, and tenderest She, she, divinest maid, Blooms, in such charms array'd Her accents might beguile Despair; her look, her smile But not her smiles alone, Her voice of melting tone, Nor bloom, nor grace my willing heart control; For in her form enshrined Resides the radiant mind That crowns, illumes, and animates the whole. By her beloved, new born Am I to bliss; the morn More sweet appears, more blue the expanse above; More mild the passing gale, More verdant seems the vale, Now, to my unfilm'd sight, O sun! thy golden light, Once more I feel is dear, Once more my breast can cheer, And ardent hopes and thoughts sublime inspire. Dian, more fair meseems Thou art than when thy beams Saw me retreat in solitude to pine; And ye, aye burning stars, That guide your emerald cars Mid boundless space, with nobler lustre shine, Now, joyous as I rove, Each cool and whispering grove, Not less to bliss than to 'pale passion' dear, Shall bid its featherd throng Awake a sprightlier song, Nor thou, my lyre, that oft, In numbers sweetly soft, Hast plain'd the story of thy master's woes, Now, while his heart beats high With ecstasy, shalt lie Now, from thy vocal wires, While love, while beauty fires, No strains of mournful fall My rapid hand shall call, Yes, glowing be the song! Such raptures well belong To him who sings the bless'd Ianthe's praise : And lo! more mildly bright Than Hesper's beamy light She comes, the queen, the glory of my lays. She comes ! ye zephyrs bland, Your purple plumes expand ; Ye blooming flowers, your balmy breath diffuse ; Ye birds, with warbled air, Salute the peerless fair, R. A. DAVENPORT. TO SLEEP. THOUGH oft in hours of grief and pain, Thy gentle słumbers, strength-restoring, Have I, alas! invoked in vain; Yet, once again thy aid imploring, I pour to thee, 0 Sleep, the strain. Think not I ask thee to befriend Awhile this breast in anguish sighing : My woes, such feeble force defying, Thy downy pinions lightly spreading, But, all thy balmy influence shedding, The soul from earthly thoughts relieving, Sweetly her charmed sense deceiving, R. A. DAVENPORT. ODE. Fired by the taper glimmering near, fernal shade. And wreaths of triumph grace thy brow. Where into rage the wintry blast Foundering within the black abyss : х |