Their purport, uses, properties; assigned To each his name significant, and, filled With love and wisdom, rendered back to Heaven He was excused the penalties of dull Minority. No tutor charged his hand With the thought-tracing quill, or tasked his mind Leaned on her elbow, watching Time, whose course, 1791. TO THE NIGHTINGALE WHICH THE AUTHOR HEARD SING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1792. 1792. HASTINGS! I knew thee young, and of a mind, LINES WRITTEN FOR INSERTION IN A COLLECTION OF HANDWRITINGS AND SIGNATURES, MADE BY MISS PATTY, SISTER OF HANNAH MORE. IN vain to live from age to age March 6, 1792. W. COWPER. TO WILLIAM WILBERFORCE, ESQ. Of Britain's senate to thy glorious cause. Hope smiles, joy springs, and though cold caution pause That shall remunerate thy toils severe By peace for Afric, fenced with British laws. Enjoy what thou hast won, esteem and love From all the just on earth and all the blest above. April 16, 1792. TO DR. AUSTEN, OF CECIL STREET, LONDON. AUSTEN! accept a grateful verse from me, The poet's treasure, no inglorious fee. Verse oft has dashed the scythe of Time aside, And oh! could I command the glittering wealth Were in the power of verse like mine to give, I would not recompense his heart with less, Who, giving Mary health, heals my distress. Friend of my friend!* I love thee, though unknown, May 26, 1792. * Hayley. So when, from mountain tops, the dusky clouds Ascending, &c.-(li. 488.) QUALES aërii montis de vertice nubes Cum surgunt, et jam Boreæ tumida ora quiêrunt, TO WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ. HAYLEY, thy tenderness fraternal, shown, Though heedless now of new engagements grown : Not more to admire the Bard than love the Man. June 2, 1792. CC CATHARINA: THE SECOND PART. ON HER MARRIAGE TO GEORGE COURTENAY, ESQ. BELIEVE it or not, as you chuse, The doctrine is certainly true, That the future is known to the Muse, And poets are oracles too. I did but express a desire To see Catharina at home, At the side of my friend George's fire, And lo-she is actually come. Such prophecy some may despise, But the wish of a poet and friend Perhaps is approved in the skies, And therefore attains to its end. 'Twas a wish that flew ardently forth From a bosom effectually warmed With the talents, the graces, and worth Or the person for whom it was formed. June, 1792. Maria* would leave us, I knew, To the grief and regret of us all, But less to our grief, could we view Catharina the Queen of the Hall. And therefore I wished as I did, And therefore this union of hands; Not a whisper was heard to forbid, But all cry, Amen! to the banns. Since therefore I seem to incur No danger of wishing in vain, When making good wishes for her, I will e'en to my wishes again; With one I have made her a wife, And now I will try with another, Which I cannot suppress for my life,— How soon I can make her a mother LINES ADDRESSED TO DR. DARWIN, 66 AUTHOR OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN." Two Poets,† (poets, by report, Sweet Harmonist of Flora's court! They best can judge a poet's worth, The pangs of a poetic birth By labours of their own. We therefore, pleased, extol thy song, 1792. Lady Throckmorton. No envy mingles with our praise, They would, they must, at thine. And deem the bard, whoe'er he be, And howsoever known, Who would not twine a wreath for thee, Unworthy of his own. Alluding to the poem by Mr. Hayley, which accompanied these lines. ON HIS APPROACHING VISIT TO HAYLEY. THROUGH floods and flames to your retreat I win my desperate way, And when we meet, if e'er we meet, July 29, 1792. Will echo your huzza. TO GEORGE ROMNEY, ESQ. ON HIS PICTURE OF ME IN CRAYONS, DRAWN AT EARTHAM IN THE SIXTYFIRST YEAR OF MY AGE, AND IN THE MONTHS OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER, 1792. ROMNEY, expert infallibly to trace On chart or canvas, not the form alone Well; I am satisfied it should be so, Since, on maturer thought, the cause is clear; 1792. AN EPITAPH. HERE lies one who never drew Would advance, present, and fire. |