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Mary Darby Robinson - Ode on Adversity
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WHERE o`er my head, the deaf`ning Tempest blew, 
  And Night`s cold lamp cast forth a feeble ray; 
Where o`er the woodlands, vivid light`nings flew, 
  Cleft the strong oak, and scorch`d the blossom`d spray; 
At morn`s approach, I mark the sun`s warm glow 
O`er the grey hill a crimson radiance throw; 
      I mark the silv`ry fragrant dew, 
      Give lustre to the vi`let`s hue; 
    The shallow rivers o`er their pebbly way, 
    In slow meanders murmuring play; 
Day spreads her beams, the lofty forest tree, 
Shakes from its moisten`d head the pearly show`r, 
All nature, feels the renovating hour, 
All, but the sorrowing child of cold ADVERSITY; 
    For her, the linnet`s downy throat 
      Breathes harmony in vain; 
    Unmov`d, she hears the warbling note 
      In all the melody of song complain; 
    By her unmark`d the flowret`s bloom, 
    In vain the landscape sheds perfume; 
Her languid form, on earth`s damp bed, 
    In coarse and tatter`d garb reclines; 
    In silent agony she pines; 
Or, if she hears some stranger`s tread, 
    To a dark nook, ashamed she flies, 
And with her scanty robe, o`er-shades her weeping eyes. 

  Her hair, dishevel`d, wildly plays 
    With every freezing gale; 
    While down her cold cheek, deadly pale, 
  The tear of pensive sorrow strays; 
  She shuns, the PITY of the proud, 
    Her mind, still triumphs, unsubdu`d 
    Nor stoops, its misery to obtrude, 
  Upon the vulgar croud. 

    Unheeded, and unknown, 
  To some bleak wilderness she flies; 
    And seated on a moss-clad stone, 
  Unwholesome vapours round her rise, 
    And hang their mischiefs on her brow; 
  The ruffian winds, her limbs expose; 
    Still, still, her heart disdains to bow, 
  She cherishes her woes. 

    NOW FAMINE spreads her sable wings; 
    INGRATITUDE insults her pangs; 
    While from a thousand eager fangs, 
Madd`ning she flies;­The recreant crew 
With taunting smiles her steps pursue; 
    While on her burning, bleeding heart, 
    Fresh wounded by Affliction`s dart, 
    NEGLECT, her icy poison flings; 
  From HOPE`s celestial bosom hurl`d, 
    She seeks oblivion`s gloom, 
  Now, now, she mocks the barb`rous world, 
    AND TRIUMPHS IN THE TOMB.
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