SONNET

sonnet

tomissburney,onhercharacterofblanchin"countryneighbours,"atale

(1820)

brightspiritshavearisentogracetheburneyname,

andsomeinletters,someintastefularts,

inlearningsomehavebornedistinguishedparts;

orsoughtthroughscienceofsweetsoundstheirfame:

andforemostshe,renownedformanyatale

offaithfulloveperplexed,andofthatgood

oldman,who,ascamilla'sguardian,stood

inobstinatevirtuecladlikecoatofmail.

nordostthou,sarah,withunequalpace

herstepspursue.thepureromanticvein

nogentlercreatureeverknewtofeign

thanthyfineblanch,youngwithaneldergrace,

inallrespectswithoutrebukeorblame,

answeringtheantiquefreshnessofhername.