46 Memoirs of Erasmus Darwin, M. D. 



I'll luive DO bending serpents kiss 



The foaming wave, and seem to hiss ,• 



No sprawling dragons gape with ire. 



And snort out steam, and vomit fire ; 



No iNaiads weep j no sphinxes stare ; ; 



No tail-hung dolphins 'swim in air. 



L^t leaves of myrtle round the rim. 



With rose-buds twisting, shade the brinij 



Each side let woodbine stalks descend. 



And form the branches as they bend ; 



While on the foot a Cupid stands 



And twines the wreath with both his hands. 



Perch"d on the rising lid above, 

 O place a lovelorn turtle dove, 



With hanging wing, and rnfiied plume. 

 With ga'iping beak, and eye of gloom. 



I-ast, let the swelling bosses shine 

 With silver, white, and burnish'd fine, 

 E right as tl.e fount, whose banks beside 

 Narcissus gaz'd, and lov'd, and died. 



Vase, when Eliza deigns to pour. 

 With snowy hand^ thy boiling shower; 

 And sweetly talks, and smi!es> and sips 

 The fragrant steam with ruby lips. 

 More charms thy polish'd orb shall shew 

 Than Titian's glowing pencil drew; 

 More than his chisel soft unfurl'd. 

 Whose hcav'n-wrought statue charms the world. 



The reader muse call to mind that Dr. Darwin was a gen- 

 tleman ot the highest sense of honour, and Mrs. Pole a lady 

 of the greatest reserve, yet njost fascinating manners ; and 

 that their admiration was mutual, and their love platonic. 

 The poet thus paints the antiquated colonel, her husband : 



Fly, gentle steeds ! — o'er yon unfriendly towers 

 Malignant stars with baleful influence reign j 



Cold Beauty's frown infects the cheerless hours. 

 And Avarice dwells in Love's polluted fane ! 



Dim 



