VOTUM, OF COWPER.

O Matutini rores, auræque salubres,

O nemora, et læti ripis felicibus amnes,
Graminei colles, et amœnæ in vallibus umbræ,

Fata modo dederint quas olim in rure paterno
Delicias procul arte procul formidinę novi;

Quam vellem ignotus, quod mens mea semper avebat,

Ante larem proprium placidam expectare quietem: Tum demum exactis non infeliciter annis,

Sortiri tacitum lapidem aut sub cespite condi.

PARAPHRASE.

YE morning dews! that bathe the thirsty flow'rs;

Ye gentle gales! that cool the sultry hours;
Ye lawns and groves! where rivers glide along,
Or tune their murmurs to the sylvan song;

Ye verdant hills! that crown the open glade; -
Ye vales! that form the deep sequester'd shade;
If the kind fates (all worldly cares forgot)
Give me again to tread your blissful spot;

Within my native cottage, how serene
Could I await life's gently-closing scene!

Then while my thoughts, intent on Heav'n, engage
The tranquil moments of declining age;

In hope of mercy, die-and sleep unknown,
Beneath the humble turf, or silent stone!

SONNET.

TO LADY HESKETH.

Blest+ with gen'rous warmth!-whose fond regard For CowPER's virtues, and immortal muse, His beauteous Wish* deigns kindly to peruse; Though faintly utter'd by an humble bard,

The Paraphrase into English of CowPER's Votum, (see preceding page) presented by the Author to Lady H. + "O blest with temper! whose unclouded ray.”

POPE.

In native lays-listen! while he reveres

Thy worth, and heaves the sigh, that the dark gloom
Of cold seclusion did thy friend consume,

Ere he was stricken with the frost of years!
Had he been early sooth'd with thy sweet smile,
And cheering converse, thou the balm hadst pour'd
Of comfort on his sorrows, and restor❜d

His mind to health and rapture !-To beguile
Man of his woes, GoD said, "Let Woman be:"
And CowPER now had liv'd, had MARY+ been
like Thee!

† It is far from the Author's intention to lessen the high character of Mrs. UNWIN in the public esteem, whose piety, excellent understanding, and taste for Cowper's beautiful compoşitions, have been deservedly acknowledged. He only would imply, that the agreeable cheerfulness of Lady HESKETH'S conversation and temper, and her delightful serenity of mind, were better calculated to relieve the spirits of this great and amiable, but often (from constitution) too melancholy poet! Indeed, CowPER expressly says of Lady HESKETH, that she was "his pride and his joy.”

SONETTO,

DI ORAZIO PETROCCHI.

Io chiesi al tempo, ed a chi surse il grande
Ampio edifizio che qui al suol truesti?
Ei non rispondi; e piu vcloci e presti
Fugitivo per l'aere i vanni spande.

Dissi alla fama, O tu, che all ammirande
Cose dai vita, e questi avanzi e questi?
China essa gli occhi, conturbati e mesti,
Qual chi doglioso, alti sospir tramande.

Io gia volgea, meravigliando 'l passo,
l'alta mole altera in mostra

Ma su per

Visto girsen l'Obblio di sasso in sasso :

E' tu, gridai, forse il sapresti? ah mostraMa in tuono m' interruppe orrido e basso, Io di chi fù non.curo, adesso e nostra.

SONNET

IMITATED FROM THE ITALIAN OF

ORAZIO PETROCCHI.

I Ask'd of Time, for whom these temples rose,
That, prostrate by his hand, in silence lie?
His lips disdain'd the myst❜ry to disclose,

And borne on swifter wing, he hurry'd by.

These broken columns, whose? I ask'd of Fame;

(Her kindling breath gives life to works sublime!) With downcast looks of mingled grief and shame,

She heav'd th' uncertain sigh, and follow'd Time.

Wrapt in amazement, o'er the mouldering pile
I saw Oblivion pass, with giant stride:
And while his visage wore Pride's scornful smile,
66 Haply thou know'st; then, tell me whose,"
I cry'd―

"Whose the vast domes, that e'en in ruin shine?"'I reck not whose,' he said, 'they now are mine!'