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"Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796],

Xi. Rejects The Influence Of Reason.

O! Reason! vaunted Sovreign of the mind!

Thou pompous vision with a sounding name!

Canst thou, the souls rebellious passions tame!

Canst thou in spells the vagrant fancy bind?

Ah, no! capricious as the wavring wind,

Are sighs of Love that dim thy boasted flame,

While Follys torch consumes the wreath of fame,

And Pleasures hands the sheaves of truth unbind.

Pressd by the storms of Fate, hope shrinks and dies;

Frenzy darts forth in mightiest ills arrayd;

Around thy throne destructive tumults rise,

And hell-fraught jealousies, thy rights invade!

Then, what art thou? O! Idol of the wise!

A visionary theme!--a gorgeous shade!