To MATILDA. Mary Robinson (née Darby) 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. T100118 Robinson, Mary, 1758-1800. Poems by Mrs. Robinson [poems only]. London Printed for C. Parker, the Upper Part of New Bond-Street 1775 pp. 131-134. [8],134p.,plate; 8⁰.

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To MATILDA . I Pure and divine , without a fault , What angels are described to be , And every bright excelling grace , Matilda , I behold in thee . II Each sweet perfection void of art , In all thy actions may be seen , Possess'd of more than common worth , A godlike mind and beauteous mein . III Where grace , and elegance unite , Where virtue and fair truth do shine , Where reigns each soft bewitching charm , Bestow'd by providence divine . IV Thy temper mild , thy friendship sure , Thy judgment sound , thy with refin'd , Thy breast with every beauty fraught , With charity , and meekness join'd . V Inspir'd by influence supreme , Humanity each purpose guides , And infinite benevolence , With wisdom o'er thy soul presides . VI No giddy prattle e'er betray'd , A want of prudence , or of sense , But ev'ry accent from thy tongue , Is blended with pure eloquence . VII Thy charms have fill'd each swain with love , Thy virtue ev'ry bosom fir'd ; Thou art the goddess of the plains , By all confess'd , by all admir'd . VIII Long have I own'd a faithful flame , A captive to your charms confess'd , Yet never mov'd one tender sigh , One spark of pity in thy breast . To each that tells his love-sick tale , Matilda , thou art gay and free . To ev'ry youth polite and just But ah , alas ! unkind to me .