ELEGY OF POLITIAN, TKAN^SLATED. l8l 



While filent midnight fhrouds the fky, 



When oft, as beauty's bards have faid, 

 Gleams on the pale feducer's eye. 



The form of her his vows bet ray' d. 



Ah ! kave the regions of the blefl; 



R.evifit this devoted earth; 

 Aid me in foothing into reft 



That injur'd girl who gave thee birth. 



Though, Cnce affliftion's helplefs heir, 



Htr trefpafs holy fpite reprov'd. 

 She once — I blufli not to declare — 



Like thee, was lovely and belov'd. 



Let pedants, whofe'linfocia! nerves 



Nature's firft impulle ne'er could fire, 

 Whofe frigid virtue never fvi^erves 



From what difcretion's rules require, 



From every vulgar failing free — 



Let them deteft me, if they can j 

 1 neither feek, nor wiih to fee, 



A mortal more, or kfs than man. 



Whate'er a father's pride could aflc. 



Was center'd in thy infant charms ,- 

 Each dream reftores my pleafing talk. 



And fancy feels thy clalping arm*. 



Again to view thy features rife. 



Again thy prattle lulls my ear. 

 While prompt imagination eyes 



The childifn laugh, the childifh tear, 



A jr'ifh of joy o'erwhelms my breaft. 



Starting, to pref» me clofe to thine. 

 I wake — Let him defcribe the refl. 



Who knows an agony like mine. _ 



To parents death diftra(5ts not yet, 



Whofc hearts have ne'er like ours been wrung, — * 

 Whifper that pity fhould forget 



What pafTion forces from my tongue. 



When the, whofe tortures (hock my foul. 



Is to her early grave confign'd. 

 My viiflim's tciulcr cares contrnul. 



Tell her — I dread to (lay behind I 



Emilhs 



