The Shamrock or, Hibernian Cresses. A Collection of Poems, Songs, Epigrams, &c. Latin as well as English, The Original Production of Ireland. To which are subjoined thoughts on the prevailing system of school education, respecting young ladies as well as gentlemen: with practical proposals for a reformation [by Samuel Whyte] |
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| II. | ELEGY II.
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 | The Shamrock |  |
ELEGY II.
[When, young, Life's Journey I began]
When, young, Life's Journey I began,
The glittering Prospect charm'd my Eyes,
I saw along the extended Plan
Joy after Joy successive rise:
The glittering Prospect charm'd my Eyes,
I saw along the extended Plan
Joy after Joy successive rise:
And Fame her golden Trumpet blew;
And Power display'd her gorgeous Charms;
And Wealth engag'd my wandering View;
And Pleasure woo'd me to her Arms:
And Power display'd her gorgeous Charms;
And Wealth engag'd my wandering View;
And Pleasure woo'd me to her Arms:
To each, by Turns, my Vows I paid,
As Folly led me to admire;
While Fancy magnify'd each Shade;
And Hope increas'd each fond Desire.
As Folly led me to admire;
While Fancy magnify'd each Shade;
And Hope increas'd each fond Desire.
But, soon, I found 'twas all a Dream;
And learn'd the fond Pursuit to shun,
Where few can reach their purpos'd Aim,
And thousands, daily, are undone:
And learn'd the fond Pursuit to shun,
Where few can reach their purpos'd Aim,
And thousands, daily, are undone:
174
And Fame, I found, was empty Air;
And Wealth had Terror for her Guest;
And Pleasure's Path was strewn with Care;
And Power was Vanity at best.
And Wealth had Terror for her Guest;
And Pleasure's Path was strewn with Care;
And Power was Vanity at best.
Tir'd of the Chace, I gave it o'er;
And, in a far sequester'd Shade,
To Contemplation's sober Power
My Youth's next Services I paid.
And, in a far sequester'd Shade,
To Contemplation's sober Power
My Youth's next Services I paid.
There Health and Peace adorn'd the Scene;
And oft, indulgent to my Prayer,
With mirthful Eye, and frolic Mien,
The Muse would deign to visit there:
And oft, indulgent to my Prayer,
With mirthful Eye, and frolic Mien,
The Muse would deign to visit there:
There would she oft, delighted, rove
The flower-enamell'd Vale along;
Or wander with me through the Grove,
And listen to the Wood-lark's Song;
The flower-enamell'd Vale along;
Or wander with me through the Grove,
And listen to the Wood-lark's Song;
Or, 'mid the Forest's awful Gloom,
Whilst wild Amazement fill'd my Eyes,
Recal past Ages from the Tomb,
And bid ideal Worlds arise.
Whilst wild Amazement fill'd my Eyes,
Recal past Ages from the Tomb,
And bid ideal Worlds arise.
Thus, in the Muse's Favour blest,
One Wish alone my Soul could frame,
And Heaven bestow'd, to crown the Rest,
A Friend, and Thyrsis was his Name.
One Wish alone my Soul could frame,
And Heaven bestow'd, to crown the Rest,
A Friend, and Thyrsis was his Name.
For manly Constancy, and Truth,
And Worth, unconscious of a Stain,
He bloom'd, the Flower of Britain's Youth,
The Boast and Wonder of the Plain.
And Worth, unconscious of a Stain,
He bloom'd, the Flower of Britain's Youth,
The Boast and Wonder of the Plain.
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Still, with our Years, our Friendship grew;
No Cares did then my Peace destroy;
Time brought new Blessings, as he flew;
And every Hour was wing'd with Joy:
No Cares did then my Peace destroy;
Time brought new Blessings, as he flew;
And every Hour was wing'd with Joy:
But soon the blissful Scene was lost;
Soon did the sad Reverse appear;
Love came, like an untimely Frost,
To blast the Promise of my Year.
Soon did the sad Reverse appear;
Love came, like an untimely Frost,
To blast the Promise of my Year.
I saw young Daphne's Angel Form,
(Fool that I was, I bless'd the Smart)
And, while I gaz'd, nor thought of Harm,
The dear Infection seiz'd my Heart:
(Fool that I was, I bless'd the Smart)
And, while I gaz'd, nor thought of Harm,
The dear Infection seiz'd my Heart:
She was—at least in Damon's Eyes—
Made up of Loveliness, and Grace;
Her Heart a Stranger to Disguise;
Her Mind as perfect as her Face:
Made up of Loveliness, and Grace;
Her Heart a Stranger to Disguise;
Her Mind as perfect as her Face:
To hear her speak, to see her move,
(Unhappy I, alas! the While)
Her Voice was Joy, her Look was Love,
And Heaven was open'd in her Smile!
(Unhappy I, alas! the While)
Her Voice was Joy, her Look was Love,
And Heaven was open'd in her Smile!
She heard me breathe my amorous Prayers,
She listen'd to the tender Strain,
She heard my Sighs, she saw my Tears,
And seem'd, at length, to share my Pain:
She listen'd to the tender Strain,
She heard my Sighs, she saw my Tears,
And seem'd, at length, to share my Pain:
She said she lov'd—and I, poor Youth!
(How soon, alas! can Hope persuade!)
Thought all she said no more than Truth,
And all my Love was well repaid.
(How soon, alas! can Hope persuade!)
Thought all she said no more than Truth,
And all my Love was well repaid.
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In Joys unknown to Courts, or Kings,
With her I sate the live-long Day,
And said, and look'd such tender Things,
As none beside could look, or say!
With her I sate the live-long Day,
And said, and look'd such tender Things,
As none beside could look, or say!
How soon can Fortune shift the Scene,
And all our earthly Bliss destroy?—
Care hovers round, and Grief's fell Train
Still treads upon the Heels of Joy.
And all our earthly Bliss destroy?—
Care hovers round, and Grief's fell Train
Still treads upon the Heels of Joy.
My Age's Hope, my Youth's best Boast,
My Soul's chief Blessing, and my Pride,
In one sad Moment, all were lost;
And Daphne chang'd; and Thyrsis dy'd.
My Soul's chief Blessing, and my Pride,
In one sad Moment, all were lost;
And Daphne chang'd; and Thyrsis dy'd.
O, who, that heard her Vows ere-while,
Could dream these Vows were insincere?
Or, who could think, that saw her smile,
That Fraud could find Admittance there?
Could dream these Vows were insincere?
Or, who could think, that saw her smile,
That Fraud could find Admittance there?
Yet, she was false!—my Heart will break!
Her Frauds, her Perjuries were such—
Some other Tongue than mine must speak—
I have not Power to say how much!
Her Frauds, her Perjuries were such—
Some other Tongue than mine must speak—
I have not Power to say how much!
Ye Swains, hence warn'd, avoid the Bait;
O shun her Paths, the Traitress shun!
Her Voice is Death, her Smile is Fate,
Who hears, or sees her, is undone.
O shun her Paths, the Traitress shun!
Her Voice is Death, her Smile is Fate,
Who hears, or sees her, is undone.
And, when Death's Hand shall close my Eye,
(For soon, I know, the Day will come)
O chear my Spirit with a Sigh;
And grave these Lines upon my Tomb.
(For soon, I know, the Day will come)
O chear my Spirit with a Sigh;
And grave these Lines upon my Tomb.
| The Shamrock | |