An ENIGMA. Elizabeth Hands (née Herbert) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T141063 Hands, Elizabeth, 1746-1815. The death of Amnon. A poem. With an appendix: containing pastorals, and other poetical pieces. By Elizabeth Hands. [Coventry] Printed for the author, by N. Rollason, Coventry, M,DCCLXXXIX. 1789 p. 125. [40],127,[1]p.; 8⁰.

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An ENIGMA . I Come , a friend to man , I'm ne'er his foe But when he indiscreetly makes me so . My name is — Stop tho' — what am I about ? They that would know my name may find it out . I'm seen in Summer in the shady grove , Where pensive speculating maidens rove ; And when the verdure of the forest flies Before th' Autumnal winds , that blust'ring rise To wast the yellow fragments o'er the plain , Firm and unshaken still my leaves remain ; But in the Winter I some covert crave , Nor dare the rigour of that season brave : Yet if too near the fire I take my stand , My rind contracts , and leaves too much expand ; Doctors extract my essence and apply't To stop disorders , and to give delight ; And some that would my properties define , Declare I am essentially divine : Nay some , by arrant superstition taught , Say I immediately from Heav'n was brought ; But that I am in Heav'n , let none deny , The Scripture says it , can the Scripture lye ?