Poems and Fugitive Pieces.

INSCRIBED
TO THE RT. HON. THE
COUNTESS OF ABERGAVENNY.

O THOU, to whom my loftiest strains belong, My love, my admiration, and my song! Deign to accept these unassuming lays, Ventur'd to view, encourag'd by thy praise. When worthless greatness fills the exalted sphere, Ill sound its labour'd plaudits on the ear; But when superior merit we'd rehearse, All will approve the tributary verse.

If, as thy valu'd friendship I can boast, She should extol thee who has known thee most; How should I trace thee through each scene of life, The tenderest mother, daughter, friend, and wife! How sweet, with splendid titles, 'tis to find The manners affable, the taste refin'd: With loveliest features, unaffected ease, A tear for pity, as a form to please.

Her chiefest care, with ready help to lend The widow comfort, and her babes befriend; So feelingly alive each action's shewn, That sympathy's soft powers are all her own. Sweet, doubly sweet's the dew‐dropp'd rose in tears, As on its cheek the glist'ning gem appears; But sweeter far, more precious 'tis to view The human eye suffus'd with pity's dew: So in her gentle bosom stands confess'd, Softness and candour, "by the Graces dress'd."

Thus from the cultur'd stem this shoot we see, Nurtur'd and branching near the parent tree; Rear'd, and matur'd, and grateful for the aid, Twines round that stem its buds to form a shade: How cheering, as the plant unfolds its bloom, To own its blossoms yours, and choice perfume; To see with fond delight, and sweet surprise, Your native genius in your daughter rise! To bless each opening virtue as it grew, To own the giver Heaven,­instructor, you; To watch with anxious joy, each lively grace, That sportive plays around her cherub race; Their noble house depicted through the whole, The mother's beauty, with the father's soul.

ELIZA.