ND dwells there in a female heart, Dwells there a wish in such a breast Its nature to forego, To smother in ignoble rest At once both bliss and woe! Far be the thought, and far the strain, Come, then, fair maid (in nature wise) 5 10 15 * Mrs. Greville's Ode, thus entitled, is printed in the Annual Register, vol. v. p. 202, and also in the St. James's Magazine, edited by Lloyd, vol. Iv. p. 371. It is a prayer to Oberon for some spell, "sovereign as juice of western flower," which should calm an over-excited mind. Cowper's lines were printed by Dr. John Johnson, in vol. iii. of the Poems, 1815, p. 32; 12mo. p. 23. In justice to the various powers With lenient balm may Oberon hence With every herb that blunts the sense "Oh! if my Sovereign Author please, Far be it from my fate To live, unblessed, in torpid ease, And slumber on in state. "Each tender tie of life defied Whence social pleasures spring, 20 25 30 Unmoved with all the world beside, A solitary thing-" Some Alpine mountain, wrapped in snow, Thus braves the whirling blast, Eternal winter doomed to know, In vain warm suns their influence shed, He rears unchanged his barren head, What though in scaly armour dressed, The shafts of woe-in such a breast 35 40 'Tis woven in the world's great plan, And fixed by Heaven's decree, That all the true delights of man Should spring from Sympathy. "Tis Nature bids, and whilst the laws Thus grief itself has comforts dear The sordid never know; And ecstasy attends the tear When virtue bids it flow. For when it streams from that pure source No bribes the heart can win, To check, or alter from its course, Peace to the phlegm of sullen elves, Extend no care beyond themselves, Unpleasing and unpleased. 60 Let no low thought suggest the prayer ;— "Oh! grant, kind Heaven, to me, 65 "Long as I draw ethereal air, "Sweet Sensibility." Where'er the heavenly Nymph is seen, With lustre-beaming eye A train, attendant on their queen, (Her rosy chorus) fly. 70 The jocund Loves in Hymen's band, And generous Friendship hand in hand, The gentler Virtues too are join'd In youth immortal warm; 75 The soft relations, which, combined, 80 The Arts come smiling in the close, The marble breathes, the canvass glows, "Still may my melting bosom cleave 85 "To sufferings not my own, "And still the sigh responsive heave "Where'er is heard a groan. "So Pity shall take Virtue's part, "Her natural ally, This artless vow may Heaven receive, And fond maid, approve: you, So may your guiding angel give Whate'er you wish or love. So may the rosy-fingered hours Lead on the various year, And every joy, which now is yours, Extend a larger sphere. 90 95 100 And suns to come, as round they wheel, Your golden moments bless, With all a tender heart can feel, Or lively fancy guess. ANTI-THELYPTHORA. A TALE IN VERSE. Ah miser, Quantâ laboras in Charybdi! HORACE, Lib. i. Ode 27. IRY del Castro was as bold a knight, rest His tender heart victoriously impressed. 5 * Published in 1781, 4to. We have not been able to find a copy of the original edition and have therefore printed it from Southey (who had the merit of establishing it to be a work by Cowper), vol. VIII. p. 112. Cowper evidently felt very warmly on the subject of his relative Martin Madan's extraordinary and most pernicious Thelypthora; but, considering their previous acquaintance, it would have been better if Cowper had allowed it to pass with silent regret. Anonymous opposition to a man strangely led astray, but who had been kind to Cowper in a peculiar degree, was not commendable. |