Ye noxious vapours, fall upon my head; Ye writhing adders, round my feet entwine; Ye toads, your venom in my foot-path spread; Ye blasting meteors, upon me shine. Ye circling seasons, intercept the year, Ye cloud-girt, moss-grown turrets, look no more Ye loud tempestuous billows, cease to roar, In plaintive numbers through the valleys stray. Ye verdant-vested trees, forget to grow, Or, swell'd with certain death and poison, glide. Ye solemn warblers of the gloomy night, That rest in lightning-blasted oaks the day, Through the black mantles take your slow-paced flight, Rending the silent wood with shrieking lay. Ye snow-crown'd mountains, lost to mortal eyes, ON MR. ALCOCK, OF BRISTOL, AN EXCELLENT MINIATURE PAINTER. YE Nine, awake the chorded shell, On wings of genius take thy flight, Nature, in all her glory drest, Her flow'ry crown, her verdant vest, Receives new charms from Alcock's hand; The eye surveys, at his command, Whole kingdoms at a view. His beauties seem to roll the eye, And bid the real arrows fly, To wound the gazer's mind; So taking are his men display'd, That oft th' unguarded wounded maid Hath wish'd the painter blind. His pictures like to nature shew, The hoary woods to nod; The curling hair, the flowing dress, Ye classic Roman-loving fools, He paints the passions of mankind, Thrice happy artist, rouse thy powers, Envy shall sicken at thy name, Italians leave the chair of Fame, And own the seat thy due." This piece was published in the Town and Country Magazine, under the signature of Asaphides after Chatterton's death, a linendraper of Bristol laid claim to it as his production. But as Chatterton mentions it as his own, in the letter to his relation, Mr. Stephens of Salisbury, his right to it (such as it is) has been considered established.-ED] TO MISS Bush, of brISTOL.* BEFORE I seek the dreary shore, To you I urge the plaintive strain, Ungrateful, cruel, lovely maid, With frowns or languid sneers; With assiduities no more Your captive will your health implore, Now to the regions where the sun Does his hot course of glory run, And parches up the ground; Where o'er the burning cleaving plains, And splendour flames around: "Written," says Dr. Gregory, "in the style of Cowley-that is, with too much affectation of wit for real feeling." He had now in contemplation "the miserable hope of securing the very ineligible appointment of a surgeon's mate to Africa." There will I go, yet not to find Which burns a constant flame: There will I lose thy heavenly form, Nor shall remembrance, raptured, warm, Draw shadows of thy frame. In the rough element the sea, No more my bosom shall be torn, Yet, Polly, could thy heart be kind, Soon would my feeble purpose find Thy sway within my breast: But hence, soft scenes of painted woe, Spite of the dear delight I'll go, Forget her, and be blest. |