POEMS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I. ANNO ETATIS 17. ON THE DEATH OF A FAIR INFANT, DYING OF A COUGH. 1. O FAIREST flow'r no sooner blown but blasted, Summer's chief honour, if thou hadst out-lasted That did thy cheek envermeil, thought to kiss, 2. For since grim Aquilo his charioteer By boistrous rape th' Athenian damsel got, Of long-uncoupled bed, and childless eld, Which 'mongst the wanton Gods a foul reproach was held. 3. So mounting up in icy-pearled car, He wander'd long, till thee he spy'd from far: But all unwares with his cold-kind embrace Unhous'd thy virgin soul from her fair biding place. 4. Yet art thou not inglorious in thy fate; 5. Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead, Or that thy corse corrupts in earth's dark womb, Hid from the world in a low delved tomb; Oh no! for something in thy face did shine Above mortality, that show'd thou wast divine, 6. Resolve me then, oh Soul most surely blest, (If so it be that thou these plaints dost hear) Tell me bright Spirit where'er thou hoverest, Oh say me true, if thou wert mortal wight, And why from us so quickly thou didst take thy flight. 7. Wert thou some star which from the ruin'd roof Of shak'd Olympus by mischance didst fall; Of sheeny Heav'n, and thou some Goddess fled Amongst us here below to hide thy nectar'd head? 8. Or wert thou that just Maid who once before Let down in cloudy throne to do the world some good? 9. Or wert thou of the golden-winged host, Thereby to set the hearts of men on fire To scorn the sordid world, and unto Heav'n aspire ? 10. But oh why didst thou not stay here below To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart? But thou canst best perform that office where thou art. 11. Then thou the Mother of so sweet a Child II. ANNO ÆTATIS 19. AT A VACATION EXERCISE IN THE COLLEGE, PART LATIN, HAIL native Language, that by sinews weak |