• Home
  • Poems
  • To Matilda Betham from a Stranger

To Matilda Betham from a Stranger

'One of our most celebrated poets, who had, I was told, picked out and praised the little piece 'On a Cloud,' another had quoted (saying it would have been faultless if I had not used the word Phoebus in it, which he thought inadmissible in modern poetry), sent me some verses inscribed "To Matilda Betham, from a Stranger"; and dated "Keswick, Sept. 9, 1802, S. T. C." I should have guessed whence they came, but dared not flatter myself so highly as satisfactorily to believe it, before I obtained the avowal of the lady who had transmitted them. Excerpt from 'Autobiographical Sketch'.

  1. 1Matilda! I have heard a sweet tune played
  2. 2On a sweet instrument--thy Poesie--
  3. 3Sent to my soul by Boughton's pleading voice,
  4. 4Where friendship's zealous wish inspirited,
  5. 5Deepened and filled the subtle tones of taste:
  6. 6(So have I heard a Nightingale's fine notes
  7. 7Blend with the murmur of a hidden stream!)
  8. 8And now the fair, wild offspring of thy genius,
  9. 9Those wanderers whom thy fancy had sent forth
  10. 10To seek their fortune in this motley world,
  11. 11Have found a little home within my heart,
  12. 12And brought me, as the quit-rent of their lodging,
  13. 13Rose-buds, and fruit-blossoms, and pretty weeds,
  14. 14And timorous laurel leaflets half-disclosed,
  15. 15Engarlanded with gadding woodbine tendrils!
  16. 16A coronal, which, with undoubting hand,
  17. 17I twine around the brows of patriot HOPE!
  1. 18The Almighty, having first composed a Man,
  2. 19Set him to music, framing Woman for him,
  3. 20And fitted each to each, and made them one!
  4. 21And 'tis my faith, that there's a natural bond
  5. 22Between the female mind and measured sounds,
  6. 23Nor do I know a sweeter Hope than this,
  7. 24That this sweet Hope, by judgment unreproved,
  8. 25That our own Britain, our dear mother Isle,
  9. 26May boast one Maid, a poetess indeed,
  10. 27Great as th' impassioned Lesbian, in sweet song,
  11. 28And O! of holier mind, and happier fate.
  1. 29Matilda! I dare twine thy vernal wreath
  2. 30Around the brows of patriot Hope! But thou
  3. 31Be wise! be bold! fulfil my auspices!
  4. 32Tho' sweet thy measures, stern must be thy thought,
  5. 33Patient thy study, watchful thy mild eye!
  6. 34Poetic feelings, like the stretching boughs
  7. 35Of mighty oaks, pay homage to the gales,
  8. 36Toss in the strong winds, drive before the gust,
  9. 37Themselves one giddy storm of fluttering leaves;
  10. 38Yet, all the while self-limited, remain
  11. 39Equally near the fixed and solid trunk
  12. 40Of Truth and Nature in the howling storm,
  13. 41As in the calm that stills the aspen grove.
  14. 42Be bold, meek Woman! but be wisely bold!
  15. 43Fly, ostrich-like, firm land beneath thy feet,
  16. 44Yet hurried onward by thy wings of fancy
  17. 45Swift as the whirlwind, singing in their quills.
  18. 46Look round thee! look within thee! think and feel!
  19. 47What nobler meed, Matilda! canst thou win,
  20. 48Than tears of gladness in a BOUGHTON'S eyes,
  21. 49And exultation even in strangers' hearts?