7.

  Had Fortune aided nature’s care,
    For once forgetting to be blind,
  His would have been an ample share,
    If well proportioned to his mind.

8.

  But had the Goddess clearly seen,
    His form had fixed her fickle breast,
  Her countless hoards would his have been,
    And none remain’d to give the rest.

* * * * *

TO A. ——­

  Oh! did those eyes instead of fire,
    With bright, but mild affection shine,
  Though they might kindle less desire,
    Love, more than mortal, would be thine.

2.

  For thou art form’d so heavenly fair,
    Howe’er those orbs may wildly beam,
  We must admire, but still despair,
    That fatal glance forbids esteem.

3.

  When nature stamp’d thy beauteous birth,
    So much perfection in thee shone,
  She fear’d, that too divine for earth,
    The skies might claim thee for their own.

4.

  Therefore to guard her dearest work,
    Lest angels might dispute the prize,
  She bade a secret lightning lurk,
    Within those once celestial eyes.

5.

  These might the boldest Sylph appal,
    When gleaming with meridian blaze,
  Thy beauty must enrapture all,
    But who can dare thine ardent gaze?

6.

  ’Tis said that Berenice’s hair,
    In stars adorns the vault of heaven,
  But they would ne’er permit thee there,
    Thou would’st so far outshine the seven.

7.

  For did those eyes as planets roll,
    Thy sister lights would scarce appear,
  E’en suns which systems now controul,
    Would twinkle dimly through their sphere.

Friday, Nov. 7th, 1806.

* * * * *

AS THE AUTHOR WAS DISCHARGING HIS PISTOLS IN A GARDEN, TWO LADIES PASSING NEAR THE SPOT, WERE ALARMED BY THE SOUND OF A BULLET HISSING NEAR THEM.  TO ONE OF WHOM THE FOLLOWING VERSES ON THE OCCASION, WERE ADDRESSED THE NEXT MORNING.

1.

  Doubtless, sweet girl, the hissing lead,
    Wafting destruction near thy charms,
  And hurtling[13] o’er thy lovely head,
    Has fill’d that breast with fond alarms.

2.

  Surely some envious Demon’s force,
    Vex’d to behold such beauty here,
  Impell’d the bullet’s viewless course,
    Diverted from its first career.

3.

  Yes! in that nearly fatal hour,
    The ball obey’d some hell-born guide,
  But Heaven with interposing power,
    In pity turn’d the death aside.

4.

  Yet, as perchance one trembling tear,
    Upon that thrilling bosom fell,
  Which I, th’ unconscious cause of fear,
    Extracted from its glistening cell;—­