The power that gave thofe little charms their grace, His favours bounded, and confined their space. Spite of thofe charms fhall time, with rude effay, Tear from the cheek the transient rose away. But the free mind, ten thousand ages past, Its Maker's form, fhall with its Maker laft. Uncertain objects still our hopes employ ; Uncertain all that bears the name of joy! Of all that feels the injuries of fate Uncertain is the fearch, and short the date. Yet even that boon what thousands wish to gain! That boon of death, the fad resource of pain! Once on my path all fortune's glory fell, Her vain magnificence, aud courtly swell: Love touched my foul at least with soft defires, And vanity there fed her meteor fires. This truth at last the mighty scenes let fall. An hour of innocence was worth them all. Lord of my life! O, let thy facred ray Shine o'er my heart, and break its cloudsaway! Deluding, flattering, faithless world adieu ! Long haft thou taught me,GOD IS ONLY TRUE! That God alone I truft, alone adore, Come, facred hour, when wavering doubts fhall ceafe! Come holy scenes of long repofe and peace! Great, gracious Master, whofe unbounded fway, Felt thro' ten thousand worlds, thofe worlds obey; Wilt thou for once thy awful glories fhade, And deign t'espouse the creature thou hast All other ties indignant I disclaim, [made Dishonoured those, and infamous to name ! O fatal ties, for which fuch tears I've fhed, For which the pleasures of the world lay dead! That world's foft pleasures you alone difarm; That world without you, ftill might have its charm. But now these scenes of tempting hope I clofe, And feek the peaceful ftudies of repofe; Look on the past as time that ftole away, And beg the bleffings of a happier day. Ye gay faloons, ye golden-vested halls, Scenes of high treats and heart-bewitching balls! Drefs, figures, fplendor, charms of play, farewell, And all the toilet's fcience to excel ! Even love that ambushed in this beauteous hair, No more fhall lie, like Indian archers, there. Go, erring love! for nobler objects given! Go, beauteous hair, a facrifice to heaven! Soon fhall the veil thofe glowing features hide, At once the period of their power and pride! The hapless lover fhall no more complain Of vows unheard, or unrewarded pain ; While calmly sleep in each untortured breast My fecret forrow, and his fighs profest. Go, flattering train! and, flaves to me no more, With the fame fighs fome happier fair, adore! Your altered faith, I blame not, nor bewail- Yet were that ardour, which his breast infpired, By charms of more than mortal beauty fired; Thefe long adieus with lovers doomed to go, Or prove their merit, or my weakness fhew, But heaven, to fuch soft frailties lefs fevere, May spare the tribute of a female tear, May yield one tender moment to deplore Those gentle hearts that I must hold no more; A a To M. DE ST. EVREMOND. SHALT for fine farer hours difplays? Go, witness of the wandering life I led, Declining years fhould ftill in filence close, And hide their human weakness in repose. Shall I in life's, in beauty's bloom retire? Grown old in courts fhall EVREMOND expire? Far from those courts, tho' every call divine! Yet, reafon, fenfe, and fortitude are thine. Are these unheard? In habit's powerful Does reafon wield her little arms in vain ? Thy queen commands thee; EVREMOMD, obey. |