Shall oft remind thee, waking, sleeping, Of those who by the Wharfe were weeping; Of those who would not be consoled When red with blood the river rolled. WRITTEN IN A SICK CHAMBER. 1793. THERE, in that bed so closely curtained round, He stirs yet still he sleeps. May heavenly dreams Long o'er his smooth and settled pillow rise; Nor fly, till morning thro' the shutter streams, And on the hearth the glimmering rush-light dies. TO.. 1805. AH! little thought she, when, with wild delight, That in her veins a secret horror slept, That her light footsteps should be heard no more, That she should die-nor watched, alas! nor wept By thee, unconscious of the pangs she bore. Yet round her couch indulgent Fancy drew The kindred forms her closing eye required. There didst thou stand-there, with the smile she knew ; She moved her lips to bless thee, and expired. * On the death of her sister. And now to thee she comes; still, still the same As in the hours gone unregarded by ! To thee, how changed, comes as she ever came; Health on her cheek, and pleasure in her eye! Nor less, less oft, as on that day, appears, TO A FRIEND ON HIS MARRIAGE. 1798. On thee, blest youth, a father's hand confers As on she moves with hesitating grace, Spare the fine tremors of her feeling frame! At each response the sacred rite requires, O'er her fair face what wild emotions play! And settled sunshine on her soul descend! Ah soon, thine own confest, ecstatic thought! Gild the calm current of domestic hours! ΤΟ THE YOUNGEST DAUGHTER OF LADY ** AH! why with telltale tongue reveal For this presumption, soon or late, Sing Harriet's cheeks, and Harriet's eyes; -Trace all the mother in the child! * Alluding to some verses which she had written on an elder sister. |