O, soon beneath their piercing ray,
Like some parched plant which dies,
Wither shall I, poor youth, away?
And all for Sophy’s eyes.
But bless the eyes, whose witcheries
Have filled my heart with care;
Till Death I’ll prize and bless the eyes
Of Sophy Ribeaupierre.
HARMODIUS AND ARISTOGITON
From the Greek
With the leaves of the myrtle I’ll cover my brand,
Like Harmodius and Aristogiton of yore;
When the tyrant they slew, and their dear native land
They caused with just laws to be governed once more.
O, beloved Harmodius! thou still art not dead,
In the Isles of the Blest thou still livest, they say;
Where the swift-heel’d Achilles and bold Diomed
Through sweet flowery meadows continually stray.
With the leaves of the myrtle I’ll cover my blade,
Like Harmodius and Aristogiton of yore;
Who, whilst the high rites to Athena were paid,
The bold tyrant Hipparchus extended in gore.
And on earth ever, ever your glory shall glow,
Harmodius and Aristogiton, sun-bright;
Because ye the damnable tyrant laid low,
And restored to your country her law and her right.
MY DAINTY DAME
My dainty Dame, my heart’s delight,
Star of my watch, serene and bright;
Come to the green wood, mild is May,
Cosy the arbours, come away!
In me thy spouse and servant see,
To silvan hall I’ll usher thee;
Thy bed shall be the leaves heaped high,
Thy organ’s note the cuckoo’s cry.
Thy covert warm the kindly wood,
No fairer form therein e’er stood.
Thy dress, my beauteous gem, shall be
Soft foliage stript from forest tree;
The foliage best the forest bore,
Served as a garb for Eve of yore.
Thou, too, throughout the summer day
Shalt rove around in Eve’s array.
My Eve thou art, my ever dear,
Thy Adam I’ll attend and cheer.