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Poor Ass! thy master should have learnt to show
Pity-best taught by fellowship of woe!

For much I fear me that he lives like thee,
Half famished in a land of luxury!

How askingly its footsteps hither bend,
It seems to say, "And have I then one friend?"
Innocent foal! thou poor despised forlorn!
I hail thee brother-spite of the fool's scorn!
And fain would take thee with me, in the dell
Of peace and mild equality to dwell,

Where toil shall call the charmer health his bride,
And laughter tickle plenty's ribless side!

How thou wouldst toss thy heels in gamesome play
And frisk about, as lamb or kitten gay!
Yea! and more musically sweet to me
Thy dissonant harsh bray of joy would be,
Than warbled melodies that soothe to rest
The aching of pale fashion's vacant breast!

Dec. 1794.

TO CHARLES LAMB.

WITH AN UNFINISHED POEM.

HUS far my scanty brain hath built the rhyme

Elaborate and swelling;-yet the heart
Not owns it. From thy spirit-breathing
powers

I ask not now, my friend! the aiding verse
Tedious to thee, and from thy anxious thought
Of dissonant mood. In fancy (well I know)
From business wandering far and local cares,

Thou creepest round a dear-loved sister's bed
With noiseless step, and watchest the faint look,
Soothing each pang with fond solicitude,
And tenderest tones medicinal of love.
I, too, a sister had, an only sister—
She loved me dearly, and I doted on her;
To her I poured forth all my puny sorrows,
(As a sick patient in a nurse's arms,)
And of the heart those hidden maladies
That shrink ashamed from even friendship's eye.
Oh! I have waked at midnight, and have wept
Because she was not !-Cheerily, dear Charles!
Thou thy best friend shalt cherish many a year;
Such warm presages feel I of high hope!
For not uninterested the dear maid
I've viewed her soul affectionate yet wise,
Her polished wit as mild as lambent glories
That play around a sainted infant's head.
He knows, (the Spirit that in secret sees,
Of whose omniscient and all-spreading love
Aught to implore were impotence of mind!)*
That my mute thoughts are sad before His throne,—
Prepared, when He His healing ray vouchsafes,
Thanksgiving to pour forth with lifted heart,
And praise Him gracious with a brother's joy!

Dec. 1794.

"I utterly recant the sentiment contained in the lines,-
Of whose omniscient and all-spreading love
Aught to implore were impotence of mind,-

it being written in Scripture, Ask, and it shall be given you! and my human reason being, moreover, convinced of the propriety of offering petitions as well as thanksgivings to Deity." S. T. C. 1797.

DOMESTIC PEACE.

ELL me, on what holy ground
May Domestic Peace be found-
Halcyon daughter of the skies!
Far on fearful wing she flies,
From the pomp of sceptred state,
From the rebel's noisy hate.
In a cottaged vale she dwells
Listening to the Sabbath bells!
Still around her steps are seen
Spotless honour's meeker mien,
Love, the sire of pleasing fears,
Sorrow smiling through her tears,
And conscious of the past employ
Memory, bosom-spring of joy.

THE SIGH.

HEN Youth his faery reign began
Ere sorrow had proclaimed me man ;
While peace the present hour beguiled,
And all the lovely prospect smiled;
Then Mary! 'mid my lightsome glee
I heaved the painless Sigh for thee.

And when, along the waves of woe,
My harassed heart was doomed to know

The frantic burst of outrage keen,
And the slow pang that gnaws unseen;
Then shipwrecked on life's stormy sea
I heaved an anguished Sigh for thee!

But soon reflection's power imprest
A stiller sadness on my breast;
And sickly hope with waning eye
Was well content to droop and die:
I yielded to the stern decree,
Yet heaved a languid Sigh for thee!

And though in distant climes to roam,
A wanderer from my native home,
I fain would soothe the sense of care,
And lull to sleep the joys that were,
Thy image may not banished be—
Still, Mary! still I sigh for thee.

June, 1794.

EPITAPH ON AN INFANT.

RE sin could blight or sorrow fade,
Death came with friendly care;
The opening bud to Heaven conveyed
And bade it blossom there.

LINES

WRITTEN AT THE KING'S ARMS, ROSS, FORMERLY THE

HOUSE OF THE "MAN OF ROSS."

[graphic]

ICHER than the miser o'er his countless

hoards,

Nobler than Kings, or king-polluted

lords,

Here dwelt the Man of Ross! O Traveller, hear! Departed merit claims a reverent tear.

Friend to the friendless, to the sick man health,
With generous joy he viewed his modest wealth;
He hears the widow's heaven-breathed prayer of
praise,

He marks the sheltered orphan's tearful gaze,
Or where the sorrow-shrivelled captive lay,
Pours the bright blaze of freedom's noon-tide ray.
Beneath this roof if thy cheered moments pass,
Fill to the good man's name one grateful glass:
To higher zest shall memory wake thy soul,
And virtue mingle in the ennobled bowl.
But if, like me, through life's distressful scene
Lonely and sad thy pilgrimage hath been;
And if, thy breast with heart-sick anguish fraught,
Thou journeyest onward tempest-tossed in thought;
Here cheat thy cares! in generous visions melt,
And dream of goodness, thou hast never felt!

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