The Book of Scottish Song/The Non-Descript
The Non-Descript.
[The following verses were addressed to Mrs. Dugald Stewart by Professor Thomas Brown, the distinguished successor of her husband in the moral philosophy chair of Edinburgh. They were entitled by their author, "The Non-Descript—To a very charming Monster."]
Thou nameless loveliness, whose mind,
With every grace to soothe, to warm,
Has lavish Nature bless'd,—and 'shrined
The sweetness in as soft a form!
Say on what wonder-beaming soil
Her sportive malice wrought thy form,—
That haughty science long might toil,
Nor learn to fix thy doubtful name!
For this she cull'd, with eager care,
The scatter'd glories of her plan,—
All that adorns the softer fair,
All that exalts the prouder man:
And gay she triumph'd,—now no more
Her works shall daring systems bound;
As though her skill inventive o'er,
She only traced the forms she found.
In vain to seek a kindred race,
Tired through her mazy realms I stray.—
Where shall I rauk thy radiant place?
Thou dear perplexing creature! say!
Thy smile so soft, thy heart so kind,
Thy voice for pity's tones so fit,
All speak thee Woman; but thy mind
Lifts thee where Bards and Sages sit.