A Translation from the Persian

Miss Vardill

Fair one, take this rose and wreathe it
In thy braided hair;
A brighter bloom will be beneath it
Take this rose, my Fair!
The flower which once was seen to glow
So lovely on thy snow-white brow
Lov’d thy lip and lightly shed
One dewy leaf of rosy red
To blush forever there.

Take this lily, Love, and twine it
With thy waving hair;
T’will deck thy ringlets — why decline it?
Take this flow’r, my fair!
And yet its blossoms, pure and pale,
In beauty on thy brow will fail;
That brow attracts all eyes to thee
And none will choose or chance to see
The Lily fading there!

Mem. This will do for Sir Pertinax Townly’s next billet-doux to Erminia with a bouquet. He shall have it for 4s 6d ready money.The Editor of the M.H. offered 5s but asked 2 years credit.

On the Hon. Cathaline L—-’s Marriage to Mr Day

Ah! why is Woman’s glory lent
To gild so short a space?
Is Beauty’s rosebud only meant
One happy Day to grace?
Yet if kind fate a Day provide
For no tomorrow stay:
Choose fair ones, like yon happy Bride
And never lose a Day.

This fetched me half a guinea, but it won’t serve another occasion.

’Tis not a form of Parian mold
That with Apollo’s might have vied;
Nor swelling stores of Indian gold
Nor purple pow’r, nor title pride
Could e’er my guarded bosom move
To yield its citadel to love.
But candour, fairest flow’r of youth!
Wit, ever-smiling Wisdom’s guest!
The vow, the eloquence of Truth
Warm from an unpolluted breast
These might a weeping Widow move
To meet again — a husband’s love.

A very pretty hint, but Mrs Bustleton says Lord Aircastle is 45 therefore the 7th line is not appropriate. I must keep it for another purchaser.