The Castle of Otranto

SONNET TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY MARY COKE.

SONNET TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LADY MARY COKE.

The gentle maid, whose hapless tale

These melancholy pages speak;

Say, gracious lady, shall she fail

To draw the tear adown thy cheek?

No; never was thy pitying breast

Insensible to human woes;

Tender, tho’ firm, it melts distrest

For weaknesses it never knows.

Oh! guard the marvels I relate

Of fell ambition scourg’d by fate,

From reason’s peevish blame.

Blest with thy smile, my dauntless sail

I dare expand to Fancy’s gale,

For sure thy smiles are Fame.

H. W.