Poetical Works: To Miss****..

To Miss****..

..on her Playing upon a Harpsichord in a Room hung with Flower-Pieces of her own Painting.

   When Stella strikes the tuneful string,
  In scenes of imitated Spring,
  Where beauty lavishes her powers
  On beds of never-fading flowers,
  And pleasure propagates around
  Each charm of modulated sound;
  Ah! think not, in the dangerous hour,
  The nymph fictitious as the flower,
  But shun, rash youth! the gay alcove,
  Nor tempt the snares of wily love.                          10
   When charms thus press on every sense,
  What thought of flight or of defence?
  Deceitful hope or vain desire,
  For ever flutter o'er her lyre,
  Delighting, as the youth draws nigh,
  To point the glances of her eye,
  And forming, with unerring art,
  New chains to hold the captive heart.
   But on those regions of delight
  Might truth intrude with daring flight,                     20
  Could Stella, sprightly, fair, and young,
  One moment hear the moral song,
  Instruction with her flowers might spring,
  And wisdom warble from her string.
   Mark, when, from thousand mingled dyes,
  Thou seest one pleasing form arise,
  How active light and thoughtful shade
  In greater scenes each other aid;
  Mark, when the different notes agree
  In friendly contrariety,                                    30
  How passion's well accorded strife,
  Gives all the harmony of life:
  Thy pictures shall thy conduct frame,
  Consistent still, though not the same;
  Thy music teach the nobler art,
  To tune the regulated heart.

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