The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

An ODE to DELIA.

WHILE you enjoy best Solitudes Repose,

And court the Muses in the lonely Grove,

Read Milton, Pope, with the great Addison:

And turn the Volumes of immortal Young.

Feast your gay Fancy, on gay Nature's charms;

And grasp Creation in your gen'rous Arms.

Let others dote on Riches, Honor, Fame,

Illustrious Blood, and an immortal Name,

The Pomp of Dress, all the Parade of Art,

By which they wound a fickle, foolish Heart;

Your Native Bloom put out their borrow'd Rays,

Like Sol's bright Beams the Host of twinkling Stars,

Your Smiles would smooth my Life's uneven Way,

Turn Midnight Darkness to the Blaze of Day,

Make horrid Winter bloom into Spring,

And fading Autumn, endless Summer bring.

When melancholy Thoughts possess my Soul,

Dispel the Gloom before the nectar'd Bowl.

E'en in the Pangs of agonizing Death,

Make my Pulse beat, my Lungs receive new Breath,

My Cheeks to glow with never fading Health.

Might I, with you dwell in connubial Bliss.

I ne'er should long for Angels happiness:

Since Marriage rites are ne'er perform'd above,

Therefore immortal, grant this life, great Jove.