TO A CANDLE. THOU watchful Taper, by whose silent light I lonely pass the melancholy night! Thou faithful witness of my secret pain; To whom alone I venture to complain! O, learn with me, my hopeless love to moan! Commiserate a life so like thy own! Like thine, my flames to my destruction turn; Wasting that heart, by which supplied they burn! Like thine, my joy and suffering they display; At once, are signs of life, and symptoms of decay! And as thy fearful flames the day decline, And only, during night, presume to shine; Their humble rays not daring to aspire Before the sun, the fountain of their fire: So mine, with conscious shame and equal awe, To shades obscure and solitude withdraw! Nor dare their light before her eyes disclose; From whose bright beams their Being first arose. THUS to a ripe, consenting Maid, Never let him much obtain! 'Men will admire, adore, and die; While, wishing, at your feet they lie! But admitting their embraces. Wakes them from the golden dream! Nothing 's new, besides our faces! Every woman is the same!' SEE! see, she wakes! SABINA wakes! With light united, day they give; But different fates, ere night fulfil! How many, by his warmth, will live! How many will her coldness kill! FALSE though She be to me and Love; I'll ne'er pursue revenge! In hours of bliss, we oft have met; SEMELE TO JUPITER. WITH my frailty, don't upbraid me! Still complaining; Still repenting; Most complying, When denying; And to be followed, only flying. With my frailty, don't upbraid me! I LOOKED, and I sighed, and I wished I could speak; I swore to myself, and resolved I would try Dear CŒLIA! be kind then! and since your own eyes Give mine leave to talk too, and do not despise We'll look, and we'll love! and though neither should speak, The pleasure we'll still be pursuing! And so, without words, I don't doubt we may make A very good end of this wooing! THE PETITION. 'GRANT me, gentle LovE,' said I, Thus to almighty Love I cried; A HUE AND CRY AFTER FAIR AMORET. FAIR AMORET is gone astray! Coquet and coy at once her Air, Both studied; though both seem neglected! Careless she is, with artful care; Affecting to seem unaffected! With skill, her eyes dart ev'ry glance; She likes herself; yet others hates |