Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

But love is such a mystery,

I cannot find it out;

For when I think I'm best resolv'd,
I then am in most doubt.

Then, farewell care! and farewell woe! I will no longer pine;

For I'll believe I have her heart,

As much as she has mine.

BOUNDLESS LOVE:

WHEN, DEAREST! I but think of thee,
Methinks all things that lovely be
Are present, and my soul delighted;
For beauties that from worth arise,
Are, like the grace of deities,

Still present with us, though unsighted.

Thus, whilst I sit and sigh the day,
With all his borrow'd lights, away,
Till night's black wings do overtake mé;
Thinking on thee, thy beauties then,
As sudden lights do sleepy men,
So they by their bright rays awake me.

Thus absence dies; and dying, proves
No absence can subsist with loves
That do partake of fair perfection:
Since in the darkest night they may,
By love's quick motion, find a way
To see each other by reflection.

The waving sea can with each flood
Bathe some high promont, that has stood
Far from the main, up in the river:
Oh! think not, then, but love can do
As much; for that's an ocean too,
Which flows not every day, but ever!

TO A LOVER.

WHY so pale and wan, fond Lover?
Pr'ythee why so pale ?

Will, when looking well can't move her
Looking ill prevail?

Pr'ythee why so pale!

Why so dull and mute, young Sinner,
Pr'ythee why so mute?

Will, when speaking well can't win her,
Saying nothing do't?

Pr'ythee why so mute?

Quit, quit for shame! this will not move,

This cannot take her;

If of herself she will not love,

Nothing can make her :-
The devil take her.

TO LUCASTA, ON HIS GOING TO THE WARS.

TELL me not, Sweet, I am unkind,

That from the nunnery

Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind
To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase,
The first foe in the field;

And with a stronger faith embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you too shall adore;

I could not love thee, Dear! so much,
Lov'd I not honour more.

JEALOUS LOVE.

My dear Mistress has a heart

Soft as those kind looks she gave me, When with love's resistless dart,

And her eyes, she did enslave me : But her constancy's so weak,

She's so wild and apt to wander, That my jealous heart would break, Should we live one day asunder.

Melting joys about her move,

Killing pleasures, wounding blisses; She can dress her eyes in love,

And her lips can warm with kisses. Angels listen if she speak,

She's my delight, all mankind's wonder; But my jealous heart would break, Should we live one day asunder.

UNREQUITED LOVE.

How hardly I conceal'd my tears,
How oft did I complain,
When many tedious days my fears

Told me I lov'd in vain!

But now my joys as wild are grown,
And hard to be conceal'd;
Sorrow may make a silent moan,
But joy will be reveal'd.

I tell it to the bleating flocks,

To every stream and tree,

And bless the hollow-murmuring rocks

For echoing back to me.

Thus you may see with how much joy
We want, we wish, believe:
"Tis hard such passion to destroy,
But easy to deceive!

HOPEFUL LOVE.

ONLY tell her that I love,

Leave the rest to Her and Fate; Some kind planet, from above, May perhaps her pity move;

Lovers on their stars must wait:

Only tell her, that I love!

Why, oh, why should I despair?
Mercy's pictur'd in her eye:
If she once vouchsafe to hear,
Welcome hope, and welcome fear,
She's too good to let me die;
Why, oh, why should I despair?

LOVE AND GRIEF.

WHILE from our looks, fair Nymph, you guess
The secret passions of our mind;

My heavy eyes, you say, confess
A heart to love and grief inclin'd.

There needs, alas! but little art

To have this fatal secret found;

With the same ease you threw the dart, 'Tis certain you can show 'the wound.

How can I see you, and not love,

While you as opening east are fair? While cold as northern blasts you prove, How can I love, and not despair?

The wretch, in double fetters bound,
Your potent mercy may release:
Soon, if my love but once were crown'd,
Fair Prophetess! my grief would cease.

LOVE SLIGHTED.

IN vain you tell your parting Lover,
You wish fair winds may waft him over::
Alas! what winds can happy prove,
That bear me far from what I love?
Alas! what dangers on the main
Can equal those that I sustain,
From slighted vows and cold disdain ?

Be gentle, and in pity choose
To wish the wildest tempest loose.:
That, thrown again upon the coast
Where first my shipwreck'd heart was lost,
I may once more repeat my pain;
Once more in dying notes complain
Of slighted vows, and cold disdain"!

TO MYRA,

PREPAR'D to rail, resolv'd to part;
When I approach the perjur'd Fair,
What is it awes my timorous heart?
Why does my tongue forbear?

With the last glance, a little kind,

Such wond'rous power have Myra's charms,

She calms my doubts, enslaves my mind,

And all my rage disarms.

« PredošláPokračovať »