Oh lady! thou, who in the olden time Hadst been the star of many a poet's dream! Thou, who unto a mind of mould sublime, Weddest the gentle graces that beseem Fair woman's best! forgive the darling line...
To see thee every day that came, And find thee still each day the same; In pleasure's smile or sorrow's tear To me still ever kind and dear;-- To meet thee early, leave thee late,...
What was thine errand here? Thy beauty was more exquisite than aught That from this marred earth Takes its imperfect birth; It was a radiant, heavenly beauty, caught From some far higher sphere,...
The night-wind's shriek is pitiless and hollow, The boding bat flits by on sullen wing, And I sit desolate, like that "one swallow" Who found (with horror) that he'd not brought spring:...
You always are making a god of your spouse; But this neither Reason nor Conscience allows; Perhaps you will say, 'tis in gratitude due, And you adore him, because he adores you....
I dedicate these verses to one whom I hold dear, One who in the dark days drew in Christian kindness near May He who led me all my life do so and more to me If ever I forget the debt of love I owe to thee.
Dear Lady of Tranquillity, Ah! lightly have the years Their music on thy heart-strings played, and all the smiles and tears That mark the joy of living, that sound the depths of pain...
The bard, if e'er he feel at all, Must sure be quicken'd by a call Both on his heart and head, To pay with tuneful thanks the care And kindness of a lady fair, Who deigns to deck his bed.
Oh be thou blest with all that Heav'n can send, Long Health, long Youth, long Pleasure, and a Friend: Not with those Toys the female world admire, Riches that vex, and Vanities that tire....
While, bending at thy honour'd shrine, the Muse Pours, MONTAGU, to thee her votive strain, Thy heart will not her simple notes refuse, Or chill her timid soul with cold disdain. ...
A noble theme demands a noble verse, In such I thank you for your fine oysters. The barrel was magnificently large, But, being sent to Olney at free charge, Was not inserted in the driver's list,...
Mon ame sur mon l'vre 'toit lors toute enti're. Pour savourer le miel qui sur la votre 'toit; Mais en me retirant, elle resta derri're, Tant de ce doux plaisir l'amorce l'a restoit. VOITURE.
Is not thy mind a gentle mind? Is not that heart a heart refined? Hast thou not every gentle grace, We love in woman's mind and face? And, oh! art thou a shrine for Sin To hold her hateful worship in?...
Sure there's a fate in plays, and 'tis in vain To write, while these malignant planets reign. Some very foolish influence rules the pit, Not always kind to sense, or just to wit:...
I mind it weel in early date, When I was beardless, young and blate, An' first could thresh the barn; Or hand a yokin at the pleugh; An' tho' forfoughten sair enough, Yet unco proud to learn:...
Maria, could Horace have guess'd What honour awaited his ode To his own little volume address'd, The honour which you have bestow'd; Who have traced it in characters here, So elegant, even, and neat,...
Mary! I want a lyre with other strings, Such aid from heaven as some have feign'd they drew, An eloquence scarce given to mortals, new And undebased by praise of meaner things,...
No more of your guests, be they titled or not, And cook'ry the first in the nation; Who is proof to thy personal converse and wit, Is proof to all other temptation.