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LOVE ELEGY.

BY MR. HAMMOND.

L

1.

ET others boast their heaps of fhining gold, And view their fields with waving plenty crown'd, Whom neighb’ring foes in conftant terror hold, And trumpets break their flumbers, never found:

II.

While calmly poor, I trifle life away,
Enjoy sweet leisure by my chearful fire,
No wanton hope my quiet fhall betray,
But cheaply blefs'd I'll fcorn each vain defire.
III.

With timely care I'll fow my little field,
And plant my orchard with it's master's hand,
Nor blush to spread the hay, the hook to weild,
Or range the fheaves along the funny land.

I

IV.

If late at dusk, while carelessly I roam,
I meet a strolling kid, or bleating lamb,
Under my arm I'll bring the wand'rer home,
And not a little chide it's thoughtless dam.

V.

What joy to hear the tempeft howl in vain,
And clasp a fearful mistress to my breast ?
Or lull'd to flumber by the beating rain,
Secure and happy fink at last to reft!

VI.

Or if the fun in flaming Leo ride,

By fhady rivers indolently stray,

And with my DELIA walking fide by fide,

Hear how they murmur, as they glide away.

VII.

What joy to wind along the cool retreat,
To stop and gaze on DELIA as I go !
To mingle sweet discourse with kisses sweet,
And teach my lovely scholar all I know!

VIII.

Thus pleas'd at heart, and not with fancy's dream

In filent happiness I reft unknown;

Content with what I am, not what I feem,

I live for DELIA, and myself alone.

IX.

Ah foolish man! who thus of her poffefs'd,
Could float and wander with ambition's wind,
And if his outward trappings spoke him bleft,
Not heed the fickness of his confcious mind.

X.

With her I fcorn the idle breath of praise,
Nor trust to happiness that's not our own,
The fmile of fortune might fufpicion raise,
But here, I know, that I am lov'd alone.
XI.

STANHOPE, in wisdom as in wit divine,
May rife, and plead Britannia's glorious cause,
With steady rein his eager wit confine,
While manly sense the deep attention draws:

XII.

Let STANHOPE speak his lift'ning country's wrong, My humble voice shall please one partial maid; For her alone, I pen my tender fong,

Securely fitting in his friendly fhade.

XIII.

STANHOPE fhall

come, and grace

his rural friend,

DELIA fhall wonder at her noble guest,
With blushing awe the riper fruit commend,
And for her husband's Patron cull the best.

XIV.

Her's be the care of all my little train,
While I with tender Indolence am bleft,
The favourite fubject of her gentle reign,
By love alone diftinguifh'd from the rest.

XV.

For her I'll yoke my oxen to the plow,
In gloomy forefts tend my lonely flock,
For her a goat-herd climb the mountain's brow,
And fleep extended on the naked rock.

XVI.

Ah! what avails to prefs the ftately bed,
And far from her 'midft taftelefs grandeur weep,
By marble fountains lay the penfive head,
And, while they murmur, ftrive in vain to sleep!
XVII.

DELIA alone can please, and never tire,
Exceed the paint of thought in true delight,
With her, enjoyment wakens new defire,
And equal rapture glows thro' every night.

XVIII.

Beauty and worth, alone in her, contend
To charm the fancy, and to fix the mind:
In her, my wife, my miftrefs, and my friend,
I tafle the joys of fenfe, and reafon join'd.

On her I'll gaze

XIX.

when others loves are o'er,

And dying, prefs her with my clay-cold hand--. Thou weep'ft already, as I were no more,

Nor can that gentle breaft the thought withstand. XX.

Oh! when I die, my latest moments fpare,
Nor let thy grief with fharper torments kill,
Wound not thy cheeks, nor hurt that flowing hair,
Tho' I am dead my foul fhall love thee ftill.

XXI.

Oh quit the room, oh quit the deathful bed,
Or thou wilt die, fo tender is thy heart!

O leave me, DELIA ! ere thou fee me dead,
These weeping friends will do thy mournful part.

XXII.

Let them, extended on the decent bier,
Convey the corfe in melancholy state,
Thro' all the village fpread the tender tear,
While pitying maids our wond'rous loves relate.

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