Sonnet CXIV.

O d' ardente virtute ornata e calda.     HE CELEBRATES LAURA'S BEAUTY AND VIRTUE.         O mind, by ardent virtue graced and warm'd.     To whom my pen so oft pours forth my heart;     Mansion of noble probity, who art     A tower of strength 'gainst all assault full arm'd.     O rose effulgent, in whose foldings, charm'd,     We view with fresh carnation snow take part!     O pleasure whence my wing'd ideas start     To that bless'd vision which no eye, unharm'd,     Created, may approach--thy name, if rhyme     Could bear to Bactra and to Thule's coast,     Nile, Tanas, and Calpe should resound,     And dread Olympus.--But a narrower bound     Confines my flight: and thee, our native clime     Between the Alps and Apennine must boast.     CAPEL LOFFT.         With glowing virtue graced, of warm heart known,     Sweet Spirit! for whom so many a page I trace,     Tower in high worth which foundest well thy base!     Centre of honour, perfect, and alone!     O blushes! on fresh snow like roses thrown,     Wherein I read myself and mend apace;     O pleasures! lifting me to that fair face     Brightest of all on which the sun e'er shone.     Oh! if so far its sound may reach, your name     On my fond verse shall travel West and East,     From southern Nile to Thule's utmost bound.     But such full audience since I may not claim,     It shall be heard in that fair land at least     Which Apennine divides, which Alps and seas surround.     MACGREGOR.