AN ODE TO THE RAIN. COMPOSED BEFORE DAY-LIGHT, ON THE MORNING APPOINTED BUT NOT VERY PLEASANT VISITOR, WHOM IT WAS feared I KNOW it is dark; and though I have lain I have not once open'd the lids of my eyes, You're but a doleful sound at best: O Rain! you will but take your flight, But only now, for this one day, O Rain! with your dull two-fold sound, For days, and months, and almost years, O Rain! you will but take your flight, Though stomach should sicken, and knees should swell I'll nothing speak of you but well. But only now for this one day, Dear Rain! I ne'er refused to say Dear Rain! if I've been cold and shy, We three, you mark! and not one more! The strong wish makes my spirit sore. We have so much to talk about, So many sad things to let out; So And this I'll swear to you, dear Rain! Be you as dull as e'er you could; Yet, knowing well your worth and place, Nor should you go away, dear Rain! But only now, for this one day, Do go, dear Rain! do go away. 1809. TRANSLATION OF A PASSAGE IN OTTFRIED'S METRICAL PARAPHRASE OF THE GOSPELS. "THIS Paraphrase, written about the time of Charlemagne, is by no means deficient in occasional passages of considerable poetic merit. There is a flow, and a tender enthusiasm in the following lines (at the conclusion of Chapter V.), which even in the translation will not, I flatter myself, fail to interest the reader. Ottfried is describing the circumstances immediately following the birth of our Lord."Biog. Lit. vol. i. p. 203. SHE gave with joy her virgin breast; And blessed, blessed was the mother Who wrapp'd his limbs in swaddling clothes, Hung o'er him with her looks of love, And soothed him with a lulling motion. Blessed! for she shelter'd him From the damp and chilling air;— With such a babe in one blest bed, With her virgin lips she kiss'd, For us she bore the heavenly Lord. 1810. "Most interesting is it to consider the effect, when the feelings are wrought above the natural pitch by the belief of something mysterious, while all the images are purely natural: then it is that religion and poetry strike deepest."-Biog. Lit. vol. i. p. 204. ISRAEL'S LAMENT ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF WALES. FROM THE HEBREW OF HYMAN HURWITZ. MOURN, Israel! Sons of Israel, mourn! As wails of her first love forlorn The virgin clad in robes of woe! Mourn the young mother snatch'd away Mourn the bright rose that bloom'd and went, Ere half disclosed its vernal hue! Mourn the green bud, so rudely rent, Mourn for the universal woe, With solemn dirge and falt'ring tongue; For England's Lady is laid low, So dear, so lovely, and so young! The blossoms on her tree of life Shone with the dews of recent bliss ;- Mourn for the prince, who rose at morn Mourn for Britannia's hopes decay'd ;- Chaste love, and fervid innocence ! O Thou! who mark'st the monarch's path, Amid the lightnings of thy wrath Jehovah frowns !-The Islands bow, |