The Complete Works of Jane Austen: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Lady ... Sandition, and the Complete Juvenilia. Jane Austen

      Ode to Pity

       To Miss Austen

      The following Ode to Pity is dedicated, from a thorough knowledge of her pitiful Nature, by her obedt humle Servt.

      The Author

      Ever musing I delight to tread

      The Paths of honour and the Myrtle Grove

      Whilst the pale Moon her beams doth shed

      On disappointed Love.

      While Philomel on airy hawthorn Bush

      Sings sweet and Melancholy, And the thrush

      Converses with the Dove.

      Gently brawling down the turnpike road,

      Sweetly noisy falls the Silent Stream—

      The Moon emerges from behind a Cloud

      And darts upon the Myrtle Grove her beam.

      Ah! then what Lovely Scenes appear,

      The hut, the Cot, the Grot, and Chapel queer,

      And eke the Abbey too a mouldering heap,

      Cnceal'd by aged pines her head doth rear

      And quite invisible doth take a peep.

       June 3d 1793