I'll tell, that if they be not glad, But then, if I grow jealous mad, And of them pitied be, "Twould vex me worse than scorn! And yet it cannot be forborne, Unless my heart would like my thoughts be torn. He is, if they can find him, fair And fresh, and fragrant too; As after rain the summer air, That are this morning blown! Yet, yet I doubt, he is not known, Yet, yet I fear to have him fully shown. But he hath eyes so large and bright, That Love might thence his torches light His voice-what maid so ever hears I'll tell no more! yet I love him, That never one low wish did dim Our love's pure light, I know— In each so free from blame That both of us would gain new fame If love's strong fears would let me tell his name. From the edition of 1817. FROM A YOUNG LADY. She had lost her silver thimble, and her complaint being accidentally overheard by him, her friend, he immediately sent her four others to take her choice of. As oft mine eye with careless glance Such things, I thought, one might not hope to meet But now (by proof I know it well) And you, dear Sir! the arch-magician. You much perplex'd me by the various set, Silver figures seem to swim, Like fleece-white clouds, that on the skiey Blue, Or Ocean Nymphs, with limbs of snowy hue, (The finger-shield of industry) Th' inventive Gods, I deem, to Pallas gave And hence the thimbled finger of grave Pallas Still miss'd the stitch, and stain'd the web with tears. Full fretfully the maiden bore, Till she her lily finger found Crimson'd with many a tiny wound; O Bard! whom sure no common Muse inspires, On War; or else the legendary lays In simplest measures hymn'd to Alla's praise; Of Justice, when the thimble you had sent; cause, "Tis well your finger-shielding gifts prevent. SARA.* 1796. TRANSLATION OF A PASSAGE IN OTTFRIED'S METRICAL PARAPHRASE OF THE GOSPELS. "This paraphrase, written about the time of Charlemagne, is by no means deficient in occasional passages of considerable poetic merit. There is a flow and a tender enthusiasm in the following lines (at the conclusion of chap. v.), which, even in the translation, will not, I flatter myself, fail to interest the reader. Ottfried is describing the circumstances immediately following the birth of our Lord."-Biog. Lit., vol. i., p. 203. SHE gave with joy her virgin breast; And blessed, blessed was the mother Hung o'er him with her looks of love, *There can be little doubt that this jeu d'esprit, notwithstanding its title and signature, was in whole or in part the production of the youthful poet to whom it was addressed. Arachne's thimble is represented as protecting the finger from the point, not the head of the needle. This at least is surely a masculine conception.-D. C. D D And soothed him with a lulling motion: From the damp and chilling air ;— Blessed, blessed! for she lay With such a babe in one blest bed, Close as babes and mothers lie! With her virgin lips she kiss'd, In the darkness and the night For us she bore the heavenly Lord. 1810. "Most interesting is it to consider the effect, when the feelings are wrought above the natural pitch by the belief of something mysterious, while all the images are purely natural; then it is that religion and poetry strike deepest."--B. L., vol. i., p. 204. ISRAEL'S LAMENT ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES. FROM THE HEBREW OF HYMAN HURWITZ, MOURN, Israel! sons of Israel, mourn! As wails, of her first love forlorn, |