Daphne, embrace me with thy circling arms, What sacred joy my swelling bosom warms, Where'er we turn what glories meet our eyes, What unexhausted springs of rapture rise. From the least plant to the bright star of day, That kindles nature with its quickening ray, All, all, our admiration ought to raise, And tune our voices to the notes of praise! How my heart swells, when from yon mountain's brow, I view the spreading country stretch'd below. Or, when amid the grass, in rural ease, Laying my limbs beneath the branching trees, I contemplate the various flowers and plants, And their minutely fine inhabitants. Or when amid the solemn hours of night, I view the stars adorn the heavens with light; The grateful changes of the seasons trace, The progress of the vegetable race. When all these wonders thro' my senses roll, They fill with purest awe my swelling soul; Thoughts urge on thoughts in quick successive birth, Weeping, I kneel to him who made the earth; To him, my admiration I confess, Father of light, of life, of every bliss: Nought then my soul with equal joy can move, Save the delight to know my Daphne's love. DAPHNE. Damon, around me also wonders rise, And fill my bosom with a sweet surprize. Oh let us then, lock'd in a soft embrace, When Morn approaching lifts her ruddy face, When gentle Eve her milder beauties shows, Or moonlight through the air its radiance throws, Thus let our thoughts upon such objects rest, Whilst to each others beating bosoms prest, In broken accents we our wonder own, And turn our minds tow'rds heaven's eternal throne. How inexpressible is the delight, When transports such as these, with tend'rest love unite. P. D. _Port Folio_, I-171, May 30, 1801, Phila. [S. Gessner, _Damon. Daphne_.] For the Port Folio. THE FLY, A FABLE. From the German of Gellert. That insects think, as well as speak, Needs, at this day, small eloquence to show; Esop, whom even children prize in Greek, Affirm'd as much, some thousand years ago. Fontaine, in French, asserted just the same; Who then shall dare deny the reptile claim To faculties, the world esteems so low, As scarce to notice, if you think or no?