A Sample of Sonnets.

In clumsy merriment canst frisk and play,
And scamper o'er the green, if once let loose.
So have I pitying seen the sons of earth

Eat, drink, and sleep, and frolic, like to thee: Less innocent indeed their awkward mirth,

Yet quite as senseless as thine own could be;. So, like thyself, too many thoughtless die, Less valu'd than fat pig within the sty.

SONNET TO SIMPLICITY.

DAUGHTER of Nature! child of honest Truth ! Oh! thou art lovely in thy russet guise; Blooming as Esther, meek as modest Ruth,

Like Martha, prudent, but, like Mary, wise. Though thou at Courts, or Balls art never seen,

Nor running wanton Pleasure's giddy round; Yet art thou fairer than the Paphian Queen,

And with more glory than Calypso crown'd. Thou hast not affectation's leering eye,

Nor sping tongue, nor strange fantastic air, Nor bold address, nor minic'd languid sigh,

To make the tender feel, or vulgar stare. Yet, sweet Simplicity! thy charms divine, Eclipse vain art, as di'monds paste outshine.

A Sample of Sonnets.

SONNET TO THE THREE SISTERS.

HAIL! Sisters three, by sacred art design'd
To sooth, to cheer, and benefit mankind.
Sweet Music, waking harmony around,
Pours in the ear the magic art of sound :
Then Painting, Nature's fairest scenes supplies,
To feast, with fix'd delight, the ravish'd eyes :
Then Poetry, combining both, affords
Harmonic numbers, with creative words.
Thus Homer, Virgil, Tasso, Milton sung,
Embodying living scenes of light and shade;
And Time's dark mantle shall o'er man be flung
Ere their notes die, or glowing pictures fade.
Hail, Poesy! thine art contains the whole
That charm at once the eye-the ear-the soul.

SONNET TO NOTHING.

MYSTERIOUS Nothing! how shall I define Thy shapeless, baseless, placeless emptiness, Nor form, nor colour, sound, nor size, are thine, Nor words, nor figures, can thy void express:

A Sample of Sonnets.

But though we cannot thee to aught compare, To thee a thousand things may liken'd be ; And though thou art with nobody, nowhere,

Yet half mankind devote their lives to thee. How many books thy history contain!

How many heads thy mighty plans pursue What lab'ring hands thy portion only gain! What busy men thy doings only do!

To thee the great, the proud, the giddy bend, And, like my Sonnet, all in nothing end.

CULPABLE CHARITY.

FROM THE FRENCH.

SURFACE will cheat or plunder where he can,
Yet charitably help the poor to live;
But he would be a far more honest man,

If he would neither take away, nor give.

SONNETS

ON

GRAVER SUBJECTS.

ON A SNOWDROP.

THE little Snowdrop rears its modest head
Ere Winter's icy breath has ceas'd to blow,
With Flora's spangles decks its frosty bed,

Aud emulates the bright unsullied snow.
Fair harbinger of Spring! thy silv'ry cup,

Where hangs the dew-drop, or the fringe of hoar, Bids humble Hope with cheerfulness look up, Though Winter frowns, and tempests round her

roar.

Thus oft, amidst adversity's keen blast,

Shall onest Worth and simple Beauty rise, O'er Poverty obscure a lustre cast,

And sweetly bloom beneath inclement skies; And, like the Suowdrop, gay assurance bring Of fairer flow'rs, and swift succeeding Spring.

Sonnets on graver Subjects.

SONNET TO PLEASURE.

LAUGHING Nymph! with roses crown'd,
Dancing jocnnd o'er the plain,

Loves and Graces flocking round,
Follow'd by a merry train ;

Whither dost thou haste along,
With thy wild fantastic throng?
Wisdom bids them stop in vain,
Vainly points a better choice;
Heedless of the suff'rers' pain,

Deaf to Want's entreating voice;
Still they frolic, dance, and play :
Whither tends their flow'ry way?
"Wanton pleasure, stranger! know,
"Leads to guilt, remorse, and woe."

SONNET TO TEMPERANCE.

O TEMPERANCE! let me ever with thee live,
Firm are thy steps, and cheerful are thy looks;
Thou dost Repletion's bursting veins relieve,
And to the sober meal sweet relish give,

Thou first of doctors, and thou best of cooks! Contentment at thy table feaste and sings,'