THE REPROACH. TO A FAITHLESS HUSBAND. CAN the voice of reason reach you Oh! 'tis not the wrong you've done me Souls, more gross than mine, may pleasure But to me, the dearest treasure Was the faith that ne'er could break. Let the syren, who's ensnar'd thee, But too well I know, that never That I lov'd you (ah! how dearly!) Not by merely chastely keeping; Oh! you had (cease tears from flowing!) While I write, my babe lies sleeping, But no more-though thus I've shewn thee The die is cast, for I can never Yet I wish thee every blessing J. H. Vy. LYRA. A DREAM OF LOVE. "On she came, "Such as I saw her in my dream. Milton. ALL hail! the scene where fancy's mien "Twas thus I dream'd, as twilight gleam'd And listlessness came gently on me. A lovely form, that well might warm And beauties rare I ween were there, And looks the young May-morn outshining, Her eyes blue light, twin planets bright, Like sunbeams seem'd on air reclining. She knelt and took a wistful look, More sweet than love itself supposes, And could she kiss! of promis'd bliss That from her eyes her soul seem'd stealing! The fact was proved, 'twas clear she loved! And blithely bade despair good-morrow. Alas! in vain: the twilight's wane, And sun from out the ocean beaming, So 'tis through life, in present strife But if in youth, our bosom's truth Then, Lyra! say no longer nay, Since joy on mutual love reposes; My passion bless! oh! whisper yes! And kiss me with your lips of roses. W. EDWIN AND MARIA. A ballad founded on fact, written at Ramsgate in the summer of 1817. FAR from the busy scenes of life, Maria dwelt, whose guileless heart Serenely gay in art untaught, Her better part with virtue fraught No wayward passion urged her breast, Save one pure flame, a flame that blest That heart was Edwin's, happy swain! In either breast a mutual flame Sweet is the bliss that youthful hearts The joy that virtuous love imparts But ah! how transient is that bliss! As fades the blooming flower, So fades each joy, and only is The solace of an hour. While thus their hearts in love's sweet chain Affection fondly bound, That ritual tie alone remain'd That Hymen's altar crown'd. But heaven forbade that happy state, And send the herald dire of fate Night's silent gloom was closing in, When lo! the hand of heaven came, The pains of death unnerved her frame, And scarce Aurora had dispelled Ere yet the soul of earth bereft Had wing'd its course away, While round her couch in life's last scene "Forbear, my Edwin, cease to sigh, "Let virtue teach thy youthful heart Teach thee to act that manly part "And oh! should vice in tempting form E'er lure thy heart to stray, Think thy Maria did thee warn, |