ON THE LOSS OF A LETTER INTENDED FOR NÉA. OH! it was fill'd with words of flame, Of many a nightly dream it told, When all that chills the heart by day, When soul and soul divinely meet, And mingle in a sigh so sweet, As virtue's self would blush to blame! How could he lose such tender words! Words! that, of themselves, should spring TO NEA's ear, like panting birds, With heart and soul upon their wing! Oh! fancy what they dar'd to speak; And I shall feign, shall fancy too, Some dear reply thou might'st have giv'n; Shall make that lip distill its dew In promise bland and hopes of heaven! Shall think it tells of future days, Ah! if this flattery is not thine, If colder hope thy answer brings, Since I can dream such dearer things! I FOUND her not the chamber seem'd It felt as if her lips had shed A sigh around her, ere she fled, Of melodies which had been there! I saw the web, which, all the day, And I could trace the hallow'd print As if 'twere done in rapture's mint, 143500B Oh NEA! NEA! where wert thou? In pity fly not thus from me; Thou art my life, my essence now, And my soul dies of wanting thee! A KISS A L'ANTIQUE. BEHOLD, my love, the curious gem Some fair Athenian girl, perhaps, Look, darling, what a sweet design! The more we gaze, it charms the more: Come-closer bring that cheek to mine, And trace with me its beauties o'er. Thou see'st, it is a simple youth, By some enamour'd nymph embrac’d— Look, NEA, love! and say, in sooth, Is not her hand most dearly plac'd? |