SONNET,

TO

GEORGE ROMNEY, ESQ.

ON HIS

Picture of me in Crayons, drawn at Eartham in the 61st year of my age, and in the months of August and September 1792.

[ОСТОВЕК 1792.]

ROMNEY, expert infallibly to trace

On chart or canvas, not the form alone And semblance, but, however faintly shown, The mind's impression too on every faceWith strokes that time ought never to erase Thou hast so pencill'd mine, that though I own

The subject worthless, I have never known The artist shining with superior grace.

But this I mark-that symptoms none of wo
In thy incomparable work appear.

Well-I am satisfied it should be so,

Since, on maturer thought, the cause is clear;

For in my looks what sorrow couldst thou see
When I was Hayley's guest, and sat to Thee?

ON

RECEIVING HAYLEY'S PICTURE.

[JANUARY 1793.]

IN language warm as could be breath'd or penn'd
Thy picture speaks th' Original my Friend,
Not by those looks that indicate thy mind,
They only speak thee Friend of all mankind;
Expression here more soothing still I see,

That Friend of all a partial Friend to me.

ЕРІТАРН

ON

MR. CHESTER, OF CHICHELEY.

[APRIL 1793.]

TEARS flow, and cease not, where the good man

lies,

Till all who know him follow to the skies.

Tears therefore fall where Chester's ashes sleep;

Him wife, friends, brothers, children, servants,

weep

And justly—few shall ever him transcend

As husband, parent, brother, master, friend.

ON

A PLANT OF VIRGIN'S-BOWER,

DESIGNED TO COVER A GARDEN-SEAT.

[SPRING OF 1793.]

THRIVE, gentle plant! and weave a bow'r
For Mary and for me,

And deck with many a splendid flow'r
Thy foliage large and free.

Thou cam'st from Eartham, and wilt shade

(If truly I divine)

Some future day th' illustrious head

Should Daphne show a jealous frown,

And Envy seize the Bay,

Affirming none so fit to crown

Such honour'd brows as they,

Thy cause with zeal we shall defend,

And with convincing pow'r;

For why should not the Virgin's Friend
Be crown'd with Virgin's bow'r?

TO MY COUSIN,

ANNE BODHAM,

ON

Receiving from her a Network Purse, made by herself.

[MAY 4, 1798.]

My gentle Anne, whom heretofore,

When I was young, and thou no more

Than plaything for a nurse,

I danced and fondled on my knee,

A kitten both in size and glee,

I thank thee for my purse.