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THE ORIGIN OF THE SAIL.

1 "SWEET maid! on whom my wishes rest,
2 My morning thought, my midnight dream,
3 O grant Lysander's fond request,
4 And let those eyes with mercy beam!
5 "Thy coy delays at length give o'er,
6 And let me claim thy nuptial vow!
7 Bid that cold bosom, cold no more,
8 With mutual passion's ardour glow.
[Page 94]
9 "To yonder isle amidst the sea,
10 Which sportive laves those mountains' feet,
11 Beloved Euphrasia, haste with me,
12 And there the priest of Hymen meet.
13 "There, spicy groves thick foliage spread
14 The timid virgin's blush to hide;
15 There, gales which tender languors shed
16 Diffuse the richest perfumes wide.
17 "O! blest retreat for happy love!
18 And see the sun's descending beams
19 Now richly gild each distant grove,
20 And shed around soft roseate gleams.
[Page 95]
21 "Then let this bark for thee designed,
22 For thee by anxious fondness drest,
23 Yon beauteous island strive to find,
24 And bear us o'er the ocean's breast."
25 Here paused the youth, and round her waist
26 His arm with timid boldness threw;
27 While from his grasp, with blushing haste,
28 The pleased yet frowning fair withdrew.
29 "And wilt thou scorn my suit?" he said,
30 While in despair his hands he wrung ....
31 "Behold!" replied the yielding maid,
32 And to the bark she, sighing, sprung.
[Page 96]
33 There, fondly seated by her side,
34 The youth her fluttered spirits cheered,
35 And o'er the eve-empurpled tide
36 To find the priest of Hymen steered.
37 But too, too slow for lovers' haste
38 The sluggish bark appeared to move;
39 Still lengthening seemed the watry waste,
40 To thy fond glances, eager love!
41 At length with fruitless wishes tired,
42 The fretful youth to Cupid prayed;
43 Who, pitying power! a thought inspired
44 The ardent suppliant's will to aid.
[Page 97]
45 To hide her face from Love's keen gaze,
46 O'er which Consent's soft languor spread,
47 Within her veil's luxuriant maze
48 Euphrasia wrapt her beauteous head.
49 But now that veil the youth unbinds,
50 Then to the bark with ardour ties ....
51 See! its folds catch the passing winds,
52 And lo, to land the vessel flies!
53 But not alone, youth loved of heaven!
54 Thy glowing bosom blessed that hour;
55 The thought, to crown thy wishes given,
56 Still charms with never-ending power:
[Page 98]
57 And grateful ages yet unborn
58 Shall bless Euphrasia's floating veil;
59 Thence dawned on Art a brighter morn,
60 For thence she framed the swelling sail.

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Title (in Source Edition): THE ORIGIN OF THE SAIL.
Author: Amelia Opie (née Alderson)
Themes:
Genres: ballad metre

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Opie, Amelia Alderson, 1769-1853. The Warrior's Return, and Other Poems. By Mrs. Opie. 2d. ed. London: Printed for Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, Paternoster-row, 1808, pp. [93]-98.  (Page images digitized by Library of Congress Research Institute.)

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