Absurdities in prose and verse. Written and Illustrated By A. Crowquill [i.e. C. R. Forrester] |
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MY FIRST LOVE.
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 | Absurdities |  |
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MY FIRST LOVE.
Lines IN EXTEMPORE CRAMBO, ADDRESSED TO THE LATE AMIABLE AND ACCOMPLISHED ARETHUSA HARRISON,
NOW, ALAS! MRS. DIXON, AND THE LITTLE MOTHER OF A LARGE FAMILY.
“The course of true love never did run smooth.”
Mr. William Shakspeare, of Stratford on Avon.
Mr. William Shakspeare, of Stratford on Avon.
1.
I saw thee—loved thee—ay, with heart and soul,Sweet Type of Excellence!—But no controul
Have we poor mortals on the Fates' decrees;
Who (strange perversion!) fill our hearts with sorrow when they please!
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2.
Our parents first observed our budding love,And caught us both when wandering to the grove!
Ah! was not cruelty apparent in their sport;
Sending us to the country straight, when we were going to court.
3.
Can I forget that muddy day we parted,When, standing at my window broken-hearted,
I watch'd with anxious eye each passing coach;
What tho' my 'Thusey walked, I knew her by her genteel carriage at her first approach!
4.
I saw thee cast a lingering look behind;—I kiss'd my hand! I never saw thee smile so sadly or so kind;
And tho' soon out of sight thou wert not out of mind:
I gazed 'till fancy almost brought thee back again,
But fancy and wishes, love, were all in vain,
They only served to mock
Thy swain, with visions of thy smart sash and muslin frock;
Yet, fixed as a statue, there I sigh'd away the morn,
And looking in vain for muslin, look'd forlorn!
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5.
I thought my heart would melt,I dropp'd my heavy head against the window, love, and wept;
(You little know the panes I felt!)
And when I went to bed I never slept.
Oh! why did such pure affection one so faithless fix on,
As you, Miss Arethusa—now Mrs. Dixon!
6.
Oft (to my Muses best ability)Have I bepraised thy sense and sensibility;
Ah! little did I think that thou (now wife and mother!)
Wert possess'd of “a heart that could feel for another.”
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