And yet remote from public view A flower there is of timid hue, Beneath a sacred shade it grows, But

sweet in native fragrance blows. From storms secure, from tempests free, But ah! too seldom seen by me. For scarce permitted to behold With longing eyes each grace unfold. My bosom struggles with its pain And checks the wishes form'd in vain ; Yet when I perchance supremely blest, I hold the floweret to my breast, Enraptur'd watch its purple glow And blessings (all I have) bestow. The gentle fragrance soothes my care And fervent is my humble prayer That no dread evil may beset My sweet but hidden violet. (December 1805) (copied from Lord Bessborough's Georgiana, 1955, appendix IV) Unhappy child of indiscretion, poor slumberer on a breast forlorn pledge of reproof of past transgression Dear tho' unfortunate to be born For thee a suppliant wish addressing To Heaven thy mother fain would dare But conscious blushes stain the blessing And sighs suppress my broken prayer But in spite of these my mind unshaken In present duty turns to thee Tho' long repented ne'er forgotten Thy days shall lov'd and guarded be And should th'ungenerous world upbraid thee for mine and for thy father's ill A nameless mother oft shall assist thee A hand unseen protect thee still And tho' to rank and wealth a stranger Thy life a humble course must run Soon shalt thou learn to fly the danger Which I too late have learnt to shun Meanwhile in these sequested vallies Here may'st thou live in safe content For innocence may smile at malice And thou-Oh ! Thou art innocent (copied from Foreman, 1998, page 267/8. From: Verses copied by Lady Charlotte Cholomondeley in her common place book, circa 1816. Lady Charlotte (Seymour) was the mother-in-law of Eliza's daughter Georgiana).