TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

THE MARCHIONESS OF DONEGALL,

WITH MR HAYLEY'S

LIFE OF MILTON.

Go, rescuing Volume, seek her gentle hands
Whose heart o'er every noble deed expands!
To such thy page inevitably dear,
Where Truth, resistless as Ithuriel's spear,
From party-prejudice, malignant spleen,
And literary envy draws the screen,

Whose sophist reasoning, and detractive powers,
Satanic influence breath'd in Eden's bowers;
Yet with some merits, pious, liberal, kind,
Held union strange in JOHNSON's mighty mind.

1. 5. Party-prejudice—Alluding to Dr Johnson's unjust biegraphy of Milton.

Lo! all is day in this redeeming tome! Again in light the amaranth garlands bloom; And, as unveil'd appears each dark'ning aim, Great in the lustre of his former fame, Immortal MILTON stands to future times, Nor sighing Goodness mourns his fancied crimes.

These leaves while graceful DONEGALL explores, New pleasures shall augment her bosom's stores; Increase the happiness, that hourly swells Where the soul's sunshine, conscious Virtue, dwells. And O! what virtue more unclouded beams Than from her spotless life continual streams? Virtue, that 'mid distinction's dazzling rays, And in the tempting and the dangerous days Of blooming charms, and inexperienc'd youth, Shone the bright pattern of connubial truth; With growing lustre and with strength'ning powers From life's gay morning to its noontide hours. What then was innocence and faith sincere, The blush of modesty and pity's tear,

Now glows with energies, that widely spread

Comfort on penury's deserted head,

And guards that Worth, which rank and wealth be

hold

Change all their tinsel to Intrinsic Gold.

TO

MISS GODFREY,*

WITH MR HAYLEY'S

LIFE OF MILTON.

HERE, from that excellence of mind and heart
Which seated MILTON high in Honour's fane,
From genius, piety, and lyric art,

Recedes injustice' dark but transient stain.

Thou, gentle Maid, whose kindred spirit shares
Each virtue thy fair sister's life displays,

Wilt joy to see expos'd the sophist snares
That wilder judgment in their artful maze.

And O! to each more bright these leaves will shine,
Their truth, their eloquence, more welcome prove,
Viewing the Bard, whose songs ye feel divine,
Given back to Glory by the Friend ye love.

* Sister to the Marchioness of Donegall.

SONNET I.*

WHEN life's realities the soul perceives
Vain, dull, perchance corrosive, if she glow
With rising energy, and open throw

The golden gates of Genius, she achieves
His fairy clime delighted, and receives

In those gay paths, where thornless roses blow, Full compensation.-Lo, with alter'd brow

Lours the false world, and the fine spirit grieves ! No more young Hope tints with her light and bloom The darkening scene. Then to ourselves we say, Come, bright Imagination, come ! relume

Thy orient lamp; with recompensing ray

Shine on the mind, and pierce its gathering gloom With all the fires of intellectual day!

* I have slightly altered this Sonnet since the Collection was last published.-ANNA SEWARD.

SONNET II.

THE future, and its gifts alone we prize,
Few joys the present brings, and those alloy'd;
Th' expected fulness leaves an aching void;
But Hope stands by, and lifts her sunny eyes
That gild the days to come.-She still relies
The phantom Happiness not thus shall glide
Always from life.-Alas!-yet ill betide
Austere Experience, when she coldly tries
In distant roses to discern the thorn!
Ah! is it wise to anticipate our pain?
Arriv'd, it then is soon enough to mourn.
Nor call the dear consoler false and vain,

When yet again, shining through April-tears,
Those fair enlight'ning eyes beam on advancing

years.