Though cannons roar, yet, safe from harms, William shall to his dear return: Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, The boatswain gave the dreadful word; They kiss'd; she sigh'd; he hung his head: Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land: "Adieu!" she cries, and waved her lily hand. "TWAS WHEN THE SEAS." JOHN GAY. TWAS when the seas were roaring With hollow blasts of wind, A damsel lay deploring, All on a rock reclined. Wide o'er the foaming billows Her head was crown'd with willows, That trembled o'er the brook. COLIN AND LUCY. BY THOMAS TICKELL. [THOMAS TICKELL was born at Bridekirk, in Cumberland, in 1686, and was educated at Oxford, but declined a fellowship in that University, as he was unwilling to take orders. He was made UnderSecretary of State, through the friendship of Addison, and afterwards He died in 1740. Secretary to the Lords Justices of Ireland. His poems Tickell contributed to the Spectator and Guardian. are graceful and tender, but are deficient in variety and force. The following is his best production.] OF Leinster, famed for maidens fair, Bright Lucy was the grace, Nor e'er did Liffey's limpid stream Reflect so sweet a face; Till luckless love and pining care Her coral lips and damask cheeks, Oh! have you seen a lily pale When beating rains descend? So droop'd the slow-consuming maid, Her life now near its end. By Lucy warn'd, of flattering swains Take heed, ye easy fair! Of vengeance due to broken vows, Ye perjured swains! beware. Three times all in the dead of night A bell was heard to ring, And shrieking, at her window thrice. The raven flapp'd his wing. Too well the love-lorn maiden knew And thus in dying words bespoke "I hear a voice you cannot hear, I see a hand you cannot see, By a false heart and broken vows In early youth I die: Was I to blame because his bride Was thrice as rich as I Ah, Colin! give not her thy vows, Vows due to me alone; Nor thou, fond maid! receive his kiss, To-morrow in the church to wed, Impatient both prepare ; But know, fond maid! and know, false man! That Lucy will be there. |