Page:The works of Anna Laetitia Barbauld volume 1.djvu/154

70 "Receive him, artless yet and young; Refine his air, and smooth his tongue: Conduct him through your favourite bowers, Enriched with fair perennial flowers, To solemn shades and springs that lie Remote from each unhallowed eye; Teach him to spell those mystic names That kindle bright immortal flames; And guide his young unpractised feet To reach coy Learning's lofty seat." Ah, luckless hour ! mistaken maids, When Cupid sought the Muse's shades! Of their sweetest notes beguiled, By the sly insidious child; Now of power his darts are found Twice ten thousand times to wound. Now no more the slackened strings Breathe of high immortal things,