Kentucky Gazette

The following exquisite morceau is extracted from a little volume of poems, by Mr. Richard Dabney, recently published. We do not present it as containing more beauties than is generally characteristic of the work throughout, but merely as a specimen of its merits.

EDT. Watchman.

THE INFLUENCE OF GOLD
I.

I wished to win the smiles of love,
And all its tender raptures prove;
In Hymen's saffron woven bower,
To spend my life's love brightened hour,
I wished on fame's proud wing to rise,
On fame's proud wing to reach the skies;
To win the meed of splendid praise,
And leave a name to future days,
I wish'd to climb ambition's height,
And dazzle with factitious light-
To burst the bounds of simple worth.
And leave the low bent sons of earth.
I wish'd—but Love with scornful eye,
Ask'd gold, his purest joys to buy :
I wish'd—but, Fame forbade to sing,
Ask'd gold to wave her eagle wing.
I wish'd—Ambition aid denied,
Ask'd Gold, my towering steps to guide,
No treasures in my coffers shine,
No love, no Fame, no Power is mine.

II.

O had my lot of life been cast,
E're Pride obtained its giant form.
In days of innocence long past,
With men of hearts, with virtue, warm.
O had my lot of life been cast,
E're Gold obtained its giant sway,
I had not then, in misery past,
The precious hours of youth's short day.
Perhaps I might not then have been,
To every mental anguish born;
Perhaps I might not then have seen,
The scowling eye of purse-pride scorn.
Perhaps I might not then have felt,
The pangs of unrequited love;
Whose woes the savage heart might melt,
But could not Pride and Avarice move.