O gently close the eye, That lov'd to look on you: O seal the lip, whose earliest sigh, With knots of sweetest flow'rs Their winding-sheet perfume; And wash their wounds with true love show'rs, O for the death of those, &c. YE spotted snakes, with double tongue, Sing in our sweet lullaby, Lulla, lulla, lullaby : Never harm, nor spell nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh, So good night, with lullaby; Weaving spiders, come not here, Hence, ye long-leg'd spinners, hence: Beetles black, approach not near, Worm, nor snail, do no offence. Philomel, with melody, &c. SONG LXXXVII. BY MRS. RADCLIFFE. In the sightless air I dwell, And listen to celestial sounds That swell the air, unheard of men, As I watch my nightly rounds O'er woody steep and silent glen : Then when the breeze has sunk away, And ocean scarce is heard to lave, For me the sea-nymphs softly play Their dulcet shells beneath the wave, In thrilling sounds that murmur woe, And pausing silence makes more dread; In music breathing from below, Sad solemn sounds that wake the dead. Unseen I move, unknown am fear'd, And fancy's wildest dreams I weave ; And oft by bards my voice is heard To die along the gales of eve. SONG LXXXVIII. BY THE SAME. Down, down, a thousand fathom deep, In coral bowers I love to lie, And hear the surges roll above, And through the waters view on high The proud ship's sail, and gay clouds move. And oft at midnight's stillest hour, Sometimes a single note I swell, That softly sweet at distance dies; Then wake the magic of my shell, When choral voices round me rise: The trembling youth, charm'd by my strain, Calls up the crew, who silent bend O'er the high deck, but list in vain, My song is hush'd, my wonders end. Fair peace SONG LXXXIX. Nor blazing gems, nor silken sheen, SONG XC. LIFE'S like a ship, in constant motion, If unassail'd by squall or show'r, While success attends the sails. } Or if the wayward winds should bluster, But let us all our patience muster, And learn from Reason how to steer : Should dangers rise, be ever ready To manage well the swelling sails. Trust not too much your own opinion, That's a compass will not stray : Or Boreas on the surface rails; shudder, Then, when you're safe from danger, riding Hope be the anchor you confide in, Let each true heart, with rapture glowing, success unto our sails.'* [This excellent nautical song is taken from the poetry of various glees, &c. performed at the society of Harmonists, and printed for presentation to the members only, in the year 1798, at the expence of Mr. George Fryer. Its ingenious author is not named.] |