Poems (Mitford)/Verses
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VERSES,SENT WITH SOME PRIMROSES TO A YOUNG LADY, WHO HAD PROMISED US A VISIT EARLY IN THE SPRING.FEB. 7, 1808.
In learned Berkeley's fabled theme—
Philosophy's poetic dream!
Where—to our world, alas! unknown—
He fix'd perfection's airy throne;
In that bright theme, unshaken truth
Beam'd in each Mezoranian youth;
Nor fickle swain, nor changeful fair,
Nor broken vows were heard of there;
But Flora's characters exprest
The wishes of each blameless breast,
And saved a world of lover's sighs,
Of blushes bright, and down-cast eyes.
First the pure bud, whose soft leaves swell
Enclos'd within their mossy cell,
Of infant love the fair one tell:
And next appears the half-blown rose,
Whose radiance like her beauty glows,
And still encreasing passion shows:
Till in the full-expanded flow'r,
Triumphant love proclaims his pow'r.
Philosophy's poetic dream!
Where—to our world, alas! unknown—
He fix'd perfection's airy throne;
In that bright theme, unshaken truth
Beam'd in each Mezoranian youth;
Nor fickle swain, nor changeful fair,
Nor broken vows were heard of there;
But Flora's characters exprest
The wishes of each blameless breast,
And saved a world of lover's sighs,
Of blushes bright, and down-cast eyes.
First the pure bud, whose soft leaves swell
Enclos'd within their mossy cell,
Of infant love the fair one tell:
And next appears the half-blown rose,
Whose radiance like her beauty glows,
And still encreasing passion shows:
Till in the full-expanded flow'r,
Triumphant love proclaims his pow'r.
If then gay Flora's fragrant race
Can changeful love's gradations trace,—
Love! ever varying, ebbing, flowing,
Sinking in woe, with rapture glowing,—
Calm friendship surely may employ
These tokens sweet of grief or joy.
But not the blushing rose I send,
As my glad pledge to thee, my friend!
For thorns that brilliant rose surround,
And, like the god, his emblems wound.
I send those blossoms fair and pure,
That winter's stormy gales endure;
Those blossoms, firstlings of the year,
To sportive childhood ever dear.
Oh! still how fresh to mem'ry's eyes,
Those hours of childish bliss arise,
When in the deep and tangled dell,
I pluck'd the flow'rs I lov'd so well;
Or, on the primrose bank reclin'd,
Gay bouquets form'd, or garlands twin'd,
Deek'd hat and frock in flow'ry state,
And totter'd with the fragrant weight.
And still, no infant better loves
To view the primrose-spangled groves,
When, first of spring's enchanting train,
They bloom beside the verdant plain.
But doubly dear these timid flow'rs,
Sweet harbingers of happy hours!
Like drooping worth by Fortune scorn'd,
Late in the wintry blast they mourn'd,
Soon shall they bloom beneath thine eye!
Soon on thy snowy bosom die!
Can changeful love's gradations trace,—
Love! ever varying, ebbing, flowing,
Sinking in woe, with rapture glowing,—
Calm friendship surely may employ
These tokens sweet of grief or joy.
But not the blushing rose I send,
As my glad pledge to thee, my friend!
For thorns that brilliant rose surround,
And, like the god, his emblems wound.
I send those blossoms fair and pure,
That winter's stormy gales endure;
Those blossoms, firstlings of the year,
To sportive childhood ever dear.
Oh! still how fresh to mem'ry's eyes,
Those hours of childish bliss arise,
When in the deep and tangled dell,
I pluck'd the flow'rs I lov'd so well;
Or, on the primrose bank reclin'd,
Gay bouquets form'd, or garlands twin'd,
Deek'd hat and frock in flow'ry state,
And totter'd with the fragrant weight.
And still, no infant better loves
To view the primrose-spangled groves,
When, first of spring's enchanting train,
They bloom beside the verdant plain.
But doubly dear these timid flow'rs,
Sweet harbingers of happy hours!
Like drooping worth by Fortune scorn'd,
Late in the wintry blast they mourn'd,
Soon shall they bloom beneath thine eye!
Soon on thy snowy bosom die!
But ere ye die, lov'd flow'rets! say,
"Haste! lovely Mary, haste away!
"At kindred friendship's call, arise!
"Seek southern bow'rs, and milder skies!
"Go, heighten spring's enraptur'd pleasures!
"Go, shed around thy heart's rich treasures!
"Fond tears as bright as morning dews,
"Sweet sunny smiles, around diffuse!
"Go! dearer than the rose of May,
"To southern bow'rs, fair maid, away!
"Haste! lovely Mary, haste away!
"At kindred friendship's call, arise!
"Seek southern bow'rs, and milder skies!
"Go, heighten spring's enraptur'd pleasures!
"Go, shed around thy heart's rich treasures!
"Fond tears as bright as morning dews,
"Sweet sunny smiles, around diffuse!
"Go! dearer than the rose of May,
"To southern bow'rs, fair maid, away!