SapphoRedivivus—AFragment

sapphoredivivus—afragment

byallilov'd,neglectedandforgot,

nofriendlyfacee'erlightsmysqualidcot;

shunn'd,hated,wrong'd,unpitied,unredrest,

themock'd"ationofthescorner'sjest!

ev'nthepoorsupportofmywretchedlife,

snatchedbytheviolenceoflegalstrife.

oftgratefulformyverydailybread

tothosemyfamily'soncelargebountyfed;

awelcomeinmateattheirhomelyfare,

mygriefs,mywoes,mysighs,mytearstheyshare:

(theirvulgarsoulsunlikethesoulsrefin'd,

thefashionedmarbleofthepolishedmind).

invainwouldprudence,withdecoroussneer,

pointoutacensuringworld,andbidmefear;

abovetheworld,onwingsoflove,irise—

iknowitsworst,andcanthatworstdespise;

letprudence'direstbodementsonmefall,

m[ontgomer]y,richreward,o'erpaysthemall!

mildzephyrswafttheetolife'sfarthestshore,

northinkofmeandmydistressmore,—

falsehoodaccurst!no!stillibegaplace,

stillnearthyheartsomelittle,littletrace:

forthatdeartracetheworldiwouldresign:

oletmelive,anddie,andthinkitmine!

“iburn,iburn,aswhenthro'ripen'dcorn

bydrivingwindsthecracklingflamesareborne;”

nowraving-wild,icursethatfatalnight,

thenblessthehourthatcharm'dmyguiltysight:

invainthelawstheirfeebleforceoppose,

chain'datlove'sfeet,theygroan,hisvanquish'dfoes.

invainreligionmeetsmyshrinkingeye,

idarenotcombat,butiturnandfly:

conscienceinvainupbraidsth'unhallow'dfire,

lovegraspsherscorpions—stifledtheyexpire!

reasondropsheadlongfromhissacredthrone,

yourdearideareigns,andreignsalone;

eachthoughtintoxicatedhomageyields,

andriotswantoninforbiddenfields.

byallonhighadoringmortalsknow!

byalltheconsciousvillainfearsbelow!

byyourdearself!—thelastgreatoathiswear,

notlife,norsoul,wereeverhalfsodear!