TO WILLIAM PARSONS, ESQ

BY MRS.

PIOZZI.

WHILE Venus infpires, and fuch verfes you fing,
As Prior might envy and praife;
While Merry can mount on the eagle's wide wing,
Or melt in the nightingale's lays ;
On the beautiful banks of this claffical stream
While Bertie can careletsly rove,
Dividing his hours and varying his theme

With Philofophy, Friendship, and Love;

In vain all the beauties of nature or art.
To roufe my tranquility tried;
Too often, faid I, has this languishing heart
For the charms of celebrity figh'd:
Now footh'd by foft mufic's feducing delights,
With reciprocal tenderness bleft,

No more will I pant for poetical Aights,.
Or let vanity rob me of reft.

* The Slave and the Wrestlers, what are they to me!'
From plots and contention remov'd;
And Job with ftill lefs fatisfaction 1 fee,
When I think on the pains I have prov❜d..

* Two celebrated pieces of sculpture in the Tribuna. †The fine picture of Job, in the fame place, by Bartolomeo della Porta,

It was thus that I thought in oblivion to drown
Each thought from remembrance that flows;
Thus fancy was ftagnant, I honestly own,
But I call'd that stagnation repofe.

Now wak'd by my countryman's voice once again
To enjoyment of pleafures long past,

Her powers elaftic the foul fhall regain,

And recal her original tafte:

Like the loadstone which long lay conceal'd in the earth

Among metals that glitter'd around, Inactive her talents, and only call'd forth When the ore correfpondent was found.

TO MRS. PIOZZI, IN REPLY.

WRITTEN ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HER

WEDDING, JULY 25, 1785.

THO'" footh'd by foft mufic's feducing delights, "And blefs'd with reciprocal love,"

Thefe cannot impede your poetical flights,
For ftill friends to the Mufes they prove.

Then fitting fo gaily your table around,
Let us all with glad fympathy view

What joys in this fortunate union abound,

This union of wit and virtú!

May

May the day which now fees you so mutually bleft In full confidence, love, and esteem,

Stiff return with increase of delight to your breast,
And be Hymen your favourite theme :

Nor fear that your fertile strong genius can fail ;
All thoughts of stagnation difpel:

The fame which fo long has attended a Thrale,
A Piozzi alone can excel!

As the ore muft for ever obedient be found,
By the loadstone attracted along,

So in England you drew all the Poets around
By the magical force of your fong:

The fame power on Arno's fair fide you retain,
Your talents with wonder we see ;

And we hope from your converse those talents to gain, i

Tho', like magnets—in smaller degree.

W. P.

IMITATION OF A SONNET ON AN AIR BALLOON, FROM THE ITALIAN OF PARINI.

IN

BY MRS. PIOZZI.

empty space behold me hurl'd, The sport and wonder of the world,

Who eager gaze while I aspire,

Expanded with aerial fire.

And

And fince Man's felfifh race demands
More empire than the feas or lands;
For him my courage mounts the skies,
Invoking Nature whilft I rife.

Mother of all! if thus refin'd,
My flights can benefit mankind,
Let them by me new realms prepare,
And take poffeffion of the air.

But if to ills alone I lead,
Quickly, oh quick let me recede;
Or blaze a fplendid exhibition,

A beacon for their mad ambition!

ON THE RIGHT HON. LADY STAVORDALE, NOW COUNTESS OF ILCHESTER: WRITTEN AT BATH

IN 1771.

YE ftately fwans, in beauty's pride,

Who down the filver Avon fail,

Awhile neglect the urging tide,
To gaze at lovely Stavordale.

Your downy breasts are not more white
Than her's is free from ftain (I ween):

In beauty, the appears as bright

As her you ferve, the Paphian Queen!

Come

Come from the woods, ye timid doves,
That thus in shades delight to dwell :
Nor fear to leave your peaceful groves,
And hover round fair Stavordale.

For fhe is of the gentleft kind,

That e'er in Beauty's bloom hath fhone; And Fame declares "her artless mind Hath every virtue for its own."

When dusky evening shall appear,

May'st thou, melodious nightingale !
Exert thy notes to pleafe her ear,
And hail the name of Stavordale.

Then perch'd upon fome humble spray,
To her thy vocal tribute give,
And finging fweet thy penfive lay,

A fmile of thanks thou fhalt receive.

May every bird of tuneful note

(When morn fhall o'er the fhades prevail) Expand with pride its little throat,

And chaunt the name of Stavordale.

Her charms with gentleft influence fhine,
By all (except herfelf) confefs'd;
And whilst we think her form divine,
She feems to know her power the leaft.

When