Satires—Imitations—AND Sonnets.

by Cornwall Bayley

 

LINES written on the banks of the Skullkill.

1.

WHILST a stranger I wander afar from the shores,
Where my heart must for ever remain;
Oh! say why that heart all its cheerfulness pours,
Oh! the banks of the Skullkill again?

2.
    It is not the villas that hang on the brow,
5
Nor the harvests that scatter the field;
It is not the swelling Savannah’s below
Nor the treasures her commerce can yield;

3.
    But ’tis that which the Skullkill alone of each stream
That adorns her Columbia can prove;
10
’Tis the gentle ingenuous manners that beam,
On her social politeness and love!

4.
    *Philadelphia! how well do thy merits approve,
The fair title affection has given;
Where thy sons are the union of brotherly love,
15
And thy daughters are seraphs from Heaven! [Page 25]

5.
    For me; when my country receives me again
And my tale shall recall what has past,
The dear banks of the Skullkill my praise shall retain
Whilst my mem’ry and gratitude last!
20

6.
    Yes!—I bid unregretting a final adieu,
To each scene that Columbia reveres,
But a lingring farewell from my soul shall bedew
The dear banks of the Skullkill with tears. [Page 26]


* Philadelphia is the Greek word for brotherly love! [back]