In our vernacular idiom call'd a rain bow, Which perhaps the unpoetick reader would fain know. Then positively declare, That Amanda the fair, Who really beats the Dutch, Exceeds as much All such As does a fine lilack silk gown Your Moggies and Nells, Then doth the noontide blaze the scintillating fire fly. THE BEAUTIFUL MANIACK. NOW Night's sullen Noon spreads her mantle around, And menacing thunders roll solemn in air, Amanda's sad accents the woodlands resound, Dark mountains re-echo these plaints of despair. "See how the gloom deepens, the rude tempest roars, "And loud the rough North-wind howls through the expanse, "Old Ocean, hoarse murmuring, lashes the shores, "While phantoms of night o'er the wild desert dance. "The prominent cliff, that impends o'er the flood "Responds to the ominous scream of the owl; "Grim wolves rave infuriate through the dark wood, "Their orgies nocturnal discordantly howl! "Here, pensively straying, I'll climb the tall steep, "While Night's leaden sceptre bids nature re pose, "From the brow of the precipice plunge in the deep, "And thus put an end to my numberless woes. "In the gay morn of life surely none was more blest, "To the blithe song of pleasure I danc'd o'er the green, "Of innocence, beauty, and fortune possest, "While sportive festivity hail'd me her queen. "To solace my parents my pleasing employ, "Their life's rugged passage with flow'rets to strow, "Amanda their hope, and Amanda their joy, "Her happiness all that they wish'd for below. "Thus fifteen fair summers roll'd swiftly away, "Ere man, base deceiver, to ruin me strove, "Ere Cleon, deceitful, but witty and gay, "First melted my heart to the raptures of love. "Spring, sweetly luxuriant, deck'd the gay lawn, "The dew-drop, nectareous, bespangled the grove, "When Cleon first met me, one beautiful morn, "With trembling solicitude whisper'd his love. "His person was graceful, his manners refin'd, "A pupil of Chesterfield, easy and free ; "But night's darkest gloom not so dark as his mind, "Not half so deceitful yon treacherous sea. "With eyes beaming rapture he swore to be true; "Can cruelty dwell with a cherub so fair? "Would you make me unhappy who live but for you, "Ah! why should you drive a fond youth to despair? "With fatal success were his stratagems plied "To ruin a blooming and innocent maid; "Full often he promis❜d to make me his bride, "Then, basely deserted the nymph he betray'd! "The news to my parents convey'd sad surprise, "Oppress'd with keen anguish they tore their grey hair, "Till pitying death clos'd their sorrowing eyes, "But left me behind them a prey to despair. "Impell❜d by rude Phrensy I wander'd from home, "That home once delightful, where once I was blest, "Now indigent, hopeless, distracted I roam, "'Till Death's cold embrace lull my sorrows to rest! "But, ah! the wild horrours of madness return "To rive every nerve in my tremulous frame, "Forbear, my pain'd head, any longer to burn, "Cease, anguishing heart, to enkindle the flame. |