| J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921. | | | | Sonnet to Hope | | By Helen Maria Williams (1762–1827) |
| | | O EVER skill’d to wear the form we love! | |
| To bid the shapes of fear and grief depart; | |
| Come, gentle Hope! with one gay smile remove | |
| The lasting sadness of an aching heart. | |
| Thy voice, benign Enchantress! let me hear; | 5 |
| Say that for me some pleasures yet shall bloom, | |
| That Fancy’s radiance, Friendship’s precious tear, | |
| Shall soften, or shall chase, misfortune’s gloom. | |
| But come not glowing in the dazzling ray, | |
| Which once with dear illusions charm’d my eye, | 10 |
| O! strew no more, sweet flatterer! on my way | |
| The flowers I fondly thought too bright to die; | |
| Visions less fair will soothe my pensive breast, | |
| That asks not happiness, but longs for rest! | | | | |
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