VII. COMPOSED A FEW DAYS AFTER THE FOREGOING. WHEN haughty expectations prostrate lie, Survive, and Fortune's utmost anger try; VIII. THE Stars are mansions built by Nature's hand; For life to occupy in love and rest; Is this a vernal thought? Even so, the Spring Of bud, leaf, blade, and flower was fashioning Abodes, where self-disturbance hath no part. LADY! the songs of Spring were in the grove 10 And sheltering wall; and still, as fancy wovess 90T The dream, to time and nature's blended powers,II A labyrinth, Lady! which your feet shall rove. 1-> Yes! when the sun of life more feebly shines, 1}} Becoming thoughts, I trust, of solemn gloom out. Or of high gladness you shall hither bring site or I And these perennial bowers and murmuring pines \/ Be gracious as the music and the bloom,v,10 And all the mighty ravishment of spring, floor X. TO THE LADY MARY LOWTHER, WITH A SELECTION FROM THE POEMS OF ANNE, COUNTESS OF WILCHELSEA; AND EXTRACTS OF SIMILAR CHARACTER FROM OTHER WRITERS; TRANSCRIBED BY A FEMALE FRIEND. LADY! I rifled a Parnassian Cave Cast up at random by the sullen wave. To female hands the treasures were resigned; From stain or taint; in which thy blameless mind May feed on thoughts though pensive not austere; Or, if thy deeper spirit be inclined To holy musing, it may enter here. XI. THERE is a pleasure in poetic pains Which only Poets know; 'twas rightly said; → Whom could the Muses else allure to tread Their smoothest paths, to wear their lightest chains? When happiest Fancy has inspired the Strains, How oft the malice of one luckless word Pursues the Enthusiast to the social board, Haunts him belated on the silent plains! Yet he repines not, if his thought stand clear Fresh as the Star that crowns the brow of Morn; Bright, speckless as a softly-moulded tear The moment it has left the Virgin's eye, Or rain-drop lingering on the pointed Thorn. |