ODE TO HOPE. Eliza Day Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T132359 Daye, Eliza, b. ca. 1734. Poems, on Various Subjects. Liverpool Printed by J. M'Creery 1798 pp. [96]-98. [2],x,[4],258p.; 8°

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ODE TO HOPE . BRIGHT queen of care beguiling smiles Supreme in airy state ; To draw the sting from fortune's wiles , And smooth the brow of fate . Thine is the music of the spring , Thy breath can freshest verdure bring , To dress the cheerless plain ; When the hoarse tempest lawless roves , And Autumn yields her golden groves , To Winter's dreary reign . Thou canst the massy gates unbar That close on happy days , The tides of woe when nations war , Thy steady anchor stays ; Far as the beam of fancy flies , Thy fair ideal kingdoms rise , And vernal garlands bloom ; Nor breathes a wretch so lost to thee , Who thro' thy power no gleam can see , That dawns on joy to come . Fortune her splendid sons displays , An envied glittering train , But ah ! the bliss that crowns their days Must still with thee remain . Each take the sphere where each must move , Nor sink below , nor rise above , Thy soft illusive voice ; The varied wish of all who live , Thy specious promises can give , Unbounded as their choice . In thee youth's golden dreams acquired A fair but faithless friend , By reason's sober hand attired , My future steps attend . Those gay delusions ever fled , Which unsubstantial forms had fed , Thy pallid sister shared ; Her trembling hand she'd oft employ , To scatter shades upon the joy , Which disappointment spared . Come soothing power ! but more serene , Thy temper'd light display ; I yield to fancy's giddy queen , Thy meteor's dazzling ray . No more my ardent wishes rise To solid good below the skies , Or court delusive power ; Yet cheer my paths if virtue treads , Shine thro' the tear that sorrow sheds , And sooth my dying hour .