POLTRT. 



To the Editor of the Bee. i 



IMITATION OF THE SONNET BY CALDERON, BEE VOL, vii. jp. IO7. 



Seest thou, Maria, that sweet bki'hing rose, 

 lis op'ning beauties perpmg to the view, 

 With virgin frefhn. Is its yoimg charms d'sclose, 

 Its lips sdll moibten'd with the morning dew. 



See how it gently swelling bursts those bands, 

 In which its infant beauties lay conceal'd ; 

 Nature impels, — it gradually txpan.ii, 

 And Sion will be the glory of the field. 



Jt Still with virgin coynefs droops its head. 

 And, bending, seems to court the leafy /hade, 

 Afraid of the harih touch of fingers rud.;, 

 It calls tlie prickly thorn unto its aid. 



The prickly thorn its aid affords in vjin, 

 Tho' guarded thus it still Is not secure: 

 No dangers daunt, nor fear, nor toil, nor pa in, 

 Are minded, when bewitching charms allure. 



Yet if by chance this beauteous tempting ro.e. 

 On its own stalk is sufter'd to remain,. 

 Soon, soin, alas ! it breaks — it over-blows. 

 Its fade.i leaves are scatter'J on the plain. 



Thus, sweet Miria's bu.^.ding inf.int charms,. 

 Tlio' scarcely yet reveal'd, all hearts allure ; 

 And thu' (lie them with chill' ^j coynefs arms, 

 Le ended thus, they still are uul secure. 



AnJ soon fhall all those remptirg beauties fade., 

 And :>c.on iTiall all their charms be quite furgi:. 

 Then wa:te not time, my lovely, glorious maid. 

 But de'gn to grace my lowly rus;ic cat. 



There saf", orotected by my circling arms. 

 Time unper;eiv'd his rav.-gis may make, 

 For cmdour, truth, beni-ficercc are charms, 

 That never c-n Maria's heirt f^rsaka. 

 VOL. viil. o f 



