But give me the air! Always the air!
The clean ways, and wings, wings,
To reach beyond accepted things,
And venture flights unendable!

Be wise, and ne'er to publick View produce
Thy undrest Mistress, or unfinisht Muse;
Since either, by that Dishabile , seem
To hurt their Beauties in our good Esteem:
And easier far we kind Impressions make,
Than we can rooted Prejudices shake.
From Nature learn, which Embrio 's does conceal,
Thine, till they're perfect, never to reveal.

The poet is a prisoner for all time;
But, captive in the shining House of Song,
Life, Love and Sorrow round about him throng,
And sweet are his enchanted chains of rhyme!

C ELIA cannot you afford,
One consolatory Word?
Must I still the Burthen bear,
Ever love, and yet desair?
Never, never Comfort know?
Cruel Celia and my Wo;
Terminate at once my Fate,
And let me hear you say, You Hate.

FROM THE FRENCH .

" I NEVER gave a kiss (says Prue),
" To naughty man, for I abhor it. "
She will not give a kiss, 't is true;
She'll take one though, and thank you for it.

Come with me my love and wander,
Where the moon is shining bright;
And the stars in beauteous splendor,
Softly shed their silv'ry light.
Where the nightingale is singing,
His soft blithesome melody,
And each breeze sweet perfume bringing,
I'll whisper words of love to thee.

And the winds were drearily moaning,
As if chanting some weird requiem;
And the trees were bending and groaning,
And seemed trembling each stalk and each stem.

Violet, Violet,
Take this rose with dew-drops wet,
Pledge that thee I'll ne'er forget,
Violet, sweet Violet.

IMITATED .

Before thy mystic altar, heavenly Truth,
I kneel in manhood, as I knelt in youth:
Thus let me kneel, till this dull form decay,
And life's last shade be brighten'd by thy ray:
Then shall my soul, now lost in clouds below,
Soar without bound, without consuming glow.

As meadows parch'd, brown groves, and withering flowers,
Imbibe the sparkling dew and genial show'rs;
As chill dark air inhales the morning beam;
As thirsty harts enjoy the gelid stream;
Thus to man's grateful soul from Heaven descend,
The mercies of his Father, Lord, and Friend!