SONNET
.
TO
DELIA
.
BY
THE
SAME
.
THRICE
has
the
year
its
varied
circuit
run
,
And
chearful
,
Delia
,
have
the
moments
flown
,
Since
with
my
love
for
thee
,
my
care
begun
To
form
thy
tender
mind
to
virtue
prone
:
The
flatteries
of
my
sex
I
bade
thee
shun
,
I
bade
thee
shun
the
follies
of
thy
own
;
Fictitious
manners
by
example
won
,
Alike
to
truth
and
innocence
unknown
:
Say
,
blooming
Maiden
,
in
whose
gentle
breast
Reigns
simple
Nature
undisguis'd
by
Art
,
Now
amply
try'd
by
time's
unerring
test
,
How
just
the
dictates
of
this
faithful
heart
,
That
with
the
joys
thy
favouring
smiles
impart
,
Deems
all
its
cares
repair'd
,
itself
supremely
blest
.