Poems and Fugitive Pieces.

SUMMER.

A SOLILOQUY BY MOONLIGHT.

The last written by hapless Mary to her unfortunate
Lover before the Shipwreck.

LAST night, as wont, I took my ev'ning stand, My thoughtful head reclin'd upon my hand, Pensive I lean'd­my casement open stood, And dim, at distance, rose thy fav'rite wood; Mild Cynthia's beams play'd quivering o'er my face, And silv'ry gleam'd o'er forest, tow'r, and space. Soft soothing light, that modest evening brings, Which shadowy sets off the face of things! To thee, lov'd orb! lone hour! sad Mary steals, And the enanguish'd tear denotes how much she feels!

Whether yon glorious lamp in space immense, Or this late hour, more keen, assaults the sense­ Whether 'tis meditation's power in various ways, Freights the lorn mind, and points the tearful gaze, Thought after thought, like mounting billows rise, Swell to my heart, and burst their way in sighs; Transfix'd, awhile for words I vainly seek, My heart so full­I would, but cannot speak!

William,­lov'd sound!­there lurks the latent theme, My mid‐day thoughts, sad fancy's nightly dream­

Where is the scene that thou art not in force? Or where's the joy that thou art not the source? Where points the thought that thou art not the soul? The first dear cause that actuates the whole! What is my wish, when these pure scenes I see, But that my William now partook with me! Were he but here, reclining by my side, Viewing this beauteous night in all its pride, How would our kindred souls, delighted, trace Each soften'd charm that now adorns this place! Ah, with what eloquence would he explain The destin'd movements of yon starry train! Oft has he led my thoughts with sweet surprise, From earth to stars!­from stars beyond the skies!

'Twas erst, as now, when kindly suns and showers Gently drew forth the sweetly timid flowers, The blushing rose from out its mossy bed, And rear'd the lily's modest drooping head; When ev'ry brake our wrapp'd attention meets, And hill and dale, a wilderness of sweets; The neighbouring windmill, clacking with the breeze, The light‐wing'd zephyrs whispering through the trees; The purry note, from pools athwart the plain, Perhaps the love‐songs of the speckled train; The sheep‐bell tinkling 'midst yon harmless flock, The watch‐dog's bark, the deep‐ton'd village clock; These scenes did once the liveliest joys impart; But what are prospects to an aching heart!

When, at mild eve, I've rested on his arm, How did his hints my inquiring spirit charm! Yon silver moon, whose sweet unconscious ray Lights my poor wanderer o'er his wat'ry way, Oft hath thy beams, by yonder winding stream, Improv'd our walk, thy source our grateful theme!

O, he wou'd talk!­how often have I hung, Hush'd as this night, o'er his instructive tongue­ Oft would he say, "Observe, my gentle love, "These beauteous flowers­that pure expanse above, "Who breath'd their balmy sweets, their various hue! "Who cloth'd yon arch with soft celestial blue! "Whence swarms with life this clear enamell'd stream! "All, all pourtray one bounteous Power supreme! "Yes, Mary, yes­this thought inspires my mind, "When my rack'd soul presents thee left behind! "That bounteous Power, who over all things reigns, "Who o'er this globe such harmony maintains, "That tun'd thy soul in unison with mine, "Who stamp'd thy William's love for ever thine, "He will protect, will shield me from despair, "And in due time restore me to thy pray'r: "Oh, let me kiss away these precious tears! "Strengthen thy hopes, and banish all thy fears! "Raise thy soft eyes, thou'rt William's joy, his pride­ "His mind's sweet hope­his honour's destin'd bride! "Fix them, my life, on yon bless'd Power above, "Whose works breathe peace, benevolence, and love!

"He,­He will shield thy love 'midst war's alarms, "And give my weeping Mary to my arms!"

Yes, I will hope­hope through these gushing tears­ Bear with me, William!­with these woman's fears! This anguish'd softness will my thoughts controul, Spite of thy words, unnerve my very soul; O, I'm unequal to thy godlike mind, Bravest of men! tenderest of human kind! Thy noble soul a counterpart shou'd find­ Dauntless, though tender­ardent, yet resign'd! But I,­so tortur'd is my woman's heart, Could basely lure thee back, by woman's art! Steal on thy mind, by each endearing name That weeping love cou'd urge, or anguish frame! Twine round thy heart‐strings, take thee by surprise, And damp the hero through my streaming eyes! Lift my imploring hands, with piteous clasp, And bar thy passage with their trembling grasp! Cling to thy bosom, hide me in thy arms, And, weeping, tell thee, peace hath many charms! Plead in such terms, thy tenderness to move, And blight thy laurels with my selfish love! Ah, fly me, William! heed not, come not near, I shou'd not, ought not, must not wish thee here! Spite of what's right, with agony I mourn, And my torn soul cries­O! return! return!

O, durst I own the conflicts I sustain, When my forc'd pen maintains a diff'rent strain;

How hard the task, where nature has no part, T' assume the heroine with a coward's heart! Strain'd is the style, and metaphor abounds, When anguish'd love is crush'd by pompous sounds!

Since, then, I shou'd not say how much I mourn, Or urge my heart's first wish­return!­return! Since I have try'd, and find it is in vain, When the mind's rack'd, to adopt a cheerful strain; Farewel,­Why should I put thy generous breast to pain, For, O,­I cannot, cannot say­remain!

Hark! 'tis the deep‐ton'd clock through yonder brake­ Here only I­and sorrow­are awake; I go to breathe my morn, my evening pray'r, That Providence may make thy paths his care; Direct, dispense, and hover round thy head; And, round thy brows, unfading laurels spread! Give thee but once to quit that hostile shore, And never­never shalt thou join it more!