LAURA WEEPING; ODE by CHARLES COTTON

I

CHASTE, lovely Laura, 'gan disclose,
Drooping with sorrow from her bed,
As with ungentle show'rs the rose,
O'ercharg'd with wet, declines her head.

II

With a dejected look, and pace,
Neglectingly she 'gan appear,
When meeting with her tell-tale glass,
She saw the face of sorrow there.

III

Sweet sorrow dressed in such a look,
As love would trick to catch desire;
A shaded leaf in beauty's book,
Charact'red with clandestine fire.

IV

Down dropped a tear, to deck her cheeks
With orient treasure of her own;
Such, as the diving Negro seeks
T' adorn the Monarch's mighty crown.

V

Then a full shower of pearly dew,
Upon her snowy breast 'gan fall:
As in due homage to bestrew;
Or mourn her beauty's funeral.

VI

So have I seen the springing morn
In dark and humid vapours clad,
Not to eclipse but to adorn
Her glories by that conquer'd shade.

VII

Spare (Laura) spare those beauties' twins,
Do not our world of beauty drown,
Thy tears are balm for other sins,
Thou know'st not any of thine own.

VIII

Then let them shine forth to declare
The sweet serenity within,
May each day of thy life be fair,
And to eclipse one hour be sin.

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