Laura Sophia Temple

Stanzas

Supposed to have been written by MARY, 
Queen of Scots, during her confinement.

Now brightly smiles the cloudless sky,
And soft the gales of fragrance sigh;
Summer puts on her golden robe,
To bless the gay rejoicing globe;
And laughing buds of ev'ry dye,
Revel beneath her lustrous eye.

E'en I too catch her bounteous glance,
And feel again Hope's pulses dance;
But quickly fades the mantling glow,
And leaves me to the gloom of woe
For not my wishes to supply
Does Summer ope her lustrous eye.

O ! hither haste, thou nectar'd gale,
Now flutt'ring through the distant vale!
Ah no ! it scorns the prison-gloom;
And seeks the Woodland's bursting bloom;
'Tis not for me that breezes sigh,
Or Summer opes her lustrous eye.

Still, still the hectic cheek shall burn,
And ask in vain for health's return;
Whilst Mem'ry, foe to Mis'ry's child,
On life's rich core shall riot wild.
Long have I bade farewell to Joy,
And Summer's full and lustrous eye.

Still o'er this mind surcharg'd with woe,
The fever'd gale of Thought shall blow;
'Till death's cold hand shall chill its rage,
And cancel Mem'ry's blotted page;
Then o'er the green-turf where I lie,
Summer may pour her lustrous eye.