Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser

"To soar aloft on Fancy's wing."

TO LOUISA.

WRITTEN BY A CAROLINIAN.

THE joyous birds appear to glad the vales,
And deck the spot where my Louisa treads;
Where'er she moves mild breathe the genial gales,
And each sweet flower a sweeter fragrance sheds.

Then must not hopeless love its anguish tell,
Nor Philon his distressful state repeat;
still, till my theme on fair Louisa dwell,
Still will I sigh my sorrows at her feet:

Why oft dejected wand'rest thou alone,
Breathing some sorrow to the list'ning air;
Whilst rocks return the solitary moan,
And to the dreary winds sad echo bear?

Thus many a lily by yon river's side,
Droops o'er the flood unnotic'd and unseen;
Thus many a rose is doom'd to waste its pride,
And drop its foliage on the wither'd green,

Ah! say my fair, has some more favour'd swain.
Taught thee the force of love's all powerful sway;
And by thine own to pity other's pain,
And to forgive what Venus bids me say?

Lo! the hoarse pigeon tunes his voice to love!
Of love, the crimson Philomela sings:
O'er every bush the zephyrs softly move,
And twitt'ring swallows skim with agile wings.

But nought to me can consolation give,
If my Louisa for another sighs;
Alas! relent, and smiling bid me live,
Or else despairing hapless Philon dies!

T.R. S.