SONNET TO AN OLD TREE, NEAR ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, ANNAPOLIS. THEE, ancient tree! autumnal storms assail, No more thou boastest of thy vernal bloom, For round thy trunk my careless childhood stray'd Fond recollection kindles at the view, ELEGIAC SONNET. FAIR rose the sun and ting'd the smiling skies With saffron hues, with crimson, and with gold; But 'midst the morn see sable clouds arise, And all the splendors of the day infold. Such sad reverses man's frail life supplies; His fond hopes yield to pale Misfortune's blow: While air-drawn schemes his youthful fancy spies, Stern Fate approaching lays the dreamer low. Thee, Walley, 'midst thy generous toil for fame Untimely snatch'd, the friendly muse shall mourn; For, though no respite could thy labours claim Till the due laurel should thy brows adorn, Yet of thy meed thou shalt not be forlorn, If aught my feeble lyre can grace thy name. THE INVOCATION. YE elves! ye fairies! who with tripping pace Upon the dewy lawn; where your gay band, To raise the tender shoot and clothe the field task Has stolen upon Lesbia's eyelids, then Breathe to her ear this strain, "Fair maid, whom grace "While innocence, a guardian angel, sits "To watch thy slumbers, yet at this still hour, "When wearied nature bids the world repose, "There wakes a youth, whose watchful thoughts to thee "Incessant turn, and in his ardent mind "Still views thy much lov'd form. Let then thy thoughts "Be sometimes bent on him; and, if the sighs So may no chilling winds blast the green prime may Of winter hurt your rising herbs and flow'rs: LINES Written on the wall in the gallery of St. John's College, on visiting the same after a long absence. THOU reverend pile, where erst my careless youth But ah! how chang'd from what they were before! Each object now some absent friend recals Whose well-known visage I behold no more. Yet if perchance in future days their eyes Should view my fond remembrance here exprest, Oh! let the memory of him arise Who bears their image graven in his breast! |