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[THE LEARNING OF LOVE.] [About 1776.] AH ! blest be the days when with Mira I took The learning of Love When we pluck'd the wild blossoms that blush'd in the grass, And I taught my dear maid of their species and dass; For Conway, the friend of mankind, had decreed That Hudson should show us the wealth of the mead. YE GENTLE GALES. Woodbridge, 1776. YE gentle Gales, that softly move, Go whisper to the Fair I love; Tell her I languish and adore, And pity in return implore. But if she's cold to my request, Ye louder Winds, proclaim the rest My sighs, my tears, my griefs proclaim, And speak in strongest notes my flame. Still, if she rests in mute disdain, And thinks I feel a common pain 10 Wing'd with my woes, ye Tempests, fly, And tell the haughty Fair I die. MIRA. Aldborough, 1777. A WANTON chaos in my breast raged high, A wanton transport darted in mine eye; False pleasure urged, and ev'ry eager care, That swell the soul to guilt and to despair. My Mira came ! be ever blest the hour, That drew my thoughts half way from folly's power; She first my soul with loftier notions fired ; I saw their truth, and as I saw admired ; With greater force returning reason moved, And as returning reason urged, I loved ; 10 Till pain, reflection, hope, and love allied My bliss precarious to a surer guide To Him who gives pain, reason, hope, and love, Each for that end that angels must approve. One beam of light He gave my mind to see, And gave that light, my heavenly fair, by thee ; That beam shall raise my thoughts, and mend my strain, Nor shall my vows, nor prayers, nor verse be vain. HYMN. Beccles, 1778. OH, Thou ! who taught my infant eye To pierce the air, and view the sky, To see my God inearth and seas, To hear him in the vernal ...
