Imitated from the French

STRAYING beside yon wood-screen'd river,
Dan Cupid met my wond'ring view;
His feather'd arrows stor'd his quiver,
Each feather glow'd a different hue:

'For him who frames the daring deed,
'(The little Godhead said, and laugh'd)
'To fly with Miss beyond the Tweed,
'An eagle's plume adorns the shaft.

'The prattler, vain of his address,
'The magpye's feathers never fail;
'And for the youth too fond of dress,
'I rob the gaudy peacock's tail.

'Whene'er I mean to rouse the care
'That lurks within the jealous heart,
'The owl that wings the midnight air
'Lends his grave plume to load the dart.

'But rarely when I would assail
'The constant heart with truth imprest,
'Then for the trembling shaft I steal
'A feather from the turtle's breast:

'Lo! one with that soft plumage crown'd,
'Which more than all my arms I prize!'
'—Alas!' I cried, 'this gave the wound,
'When late you shot from JULIA'S eyes.'