Short Poems

By her talent a secret will Celia discover,
As the picture will speak — it will say that I love her .

W ITH Evergreen when Ladies quarrel,
'Tis mutiny against the Laurel , —
Grace of THE H ERO they admire,
And prompter of their P OET'S fire!
Nay — though surpassing all belief —
They overlook the M YRTLE'S LEAF !
Perennial charm of B EAUTY'S crown,
Of P LEASURE'S wreath, and L OVE'S renown!

Y OU love a simile; — why then have at you:
You are in Scripture the Assyrian Statue;
Of you , with equal truth, it may be said,
The feet are clay , but golden is the head .

M Y little flock, your Shepherd hail!
Feed in his consecrated vale!
Admetus's fam'd sheep you follow,
And are to pass before Apollo .

When the mare to your villa has just brought me down,
I interrogate you, " What 's the news of the town?"
To my chambers if you for variety go,
Learn of me " how your peas and your cucumbers grow!"

C HARMING Sex whose wit and beauty
Love attends with pleasing duty ,
Envy not the rugged Swiss ,
Who is proud, and braves the kiss!
Let him still be cold and free!
Mine the chain — but held by thee.

W ERE I of Kingston the Manorial King,
No boughs of mine should clip the Coachman's wing
But I was poor, when Dysart's wealthy Lord
Swept all the timber into his record:
Else at a word, before day should roll,
I 'd strip the Elm into a barber's pole .

T HE Milbourne Groves in silent grief no more
The Summer's vocal fugitives deplore;
For Echo whispers to the passing gale
On Time's enchanted plume a Hermit's tale —
That an accomplish'd and a partial Guest
The solitary Vale has cheer'd and blest;
From its dull throne Ambition's pride has hurl'd,
With Taste and Sense atoning for the World .

As Time (unseen) with Love's enraptur'd eye
Saw Nature's colours o'er the landscape fly,
The " subtle thief " had mischief in his mind,
Claim'd all the works, but left the charms behind.

" Ye Nymphs, the secret theft unfold,
Whose fairy touch converts to gold,
And forms Elysian bowers? "
Bright Fancy heard; and whispering Taste ,
In Beauclerc's mind, and scene, embrac'd,
Reply'd, " The charm is ours . "