The Fair Circassian, A Dramatic Performance Done from the Original By a Gentleman-Commoner of Oxford. The Second Edition Corrected. To which are added Several Occasional Poems. By the same Author [i.e. Samuel Croxall] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. | CANTO VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
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 | The Fair Circassian, A Dramatic Performance |  |
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CANTO VI.
CHORUS.Bright Maid, ah! whither is thy Charmer gone,
And left Thee here defenceless and alone?
Tell Us, that we may range the Streets, the Grove,
Or Garden, 'till We find the Man You love.
SHE.
Sure to the Garden He has bent his Flight.
For there's his Pleasure and his Soul's Delight;
Nor wonder that all Night He revels there,
A Wilderness of Spice perfumes the Air;
Citrons above and fragrant Flowers beneath
In every Walk their grateful Odours breathe:
Fruits with delicious Pulp his Thirst appease,
And rising Lillies form his Couch of Ease.
Happy, if while He views the pleasing Scene,
Some tender Thoughts of Me break in between.
HE.
What other Object can Admittance find,
While You, dear bright Idea, fill my Mind.
Shou'd Tirza with her gilded Turrets rise,
The Landskip paint, and mingle with the Skies;
Place but my Fair, my beauteous Princess near,
Her Charms the finer Prospect wou'd appear.
Shou'd Armies march along in meet Array,
Their Spears advance, their Ensigns wide display;
Her Eyes wou'd more exalted Glories dart,
With more Surprize wou'd thrill the Gazer's Heart.
Nourisht by their propitious Beams I live,
Yet scarce can bear the Splendor that they give:
So shines the Morning Sun with kindly Light,
But who can view his Blaze without an aching Sight?
While You, dear bright Idea, fill my Mind.
Shou'd Tirza with her gilded Turrets rise,
The Landskip paint, and mingle with the Skies;
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Her Charms the finer Prospect wou'd appear.
Shou'd Armies march along in meet Array,
Their Spears advance, their Ensigns wide display;
Her Eyes wou'd more exalted Glories dart,
With more Surprize wou'd thrill the Gazer's Heart.
Nourisht by their propitious Beams I live,
Yet scarce can bear the Splendor that they give:
So shines the Morning Sun with kindly Light,
But who can view his Blaze without an aching Sight?
Unnumber'd Females, of a Form divine,
The soft Seraglio's private Walls confine;
Where blooming Virgins ripen to Desire,
And bright Sultanas glow with practis'd Fire:
Oft, as I sigh amidst the beauteous Throng
For All by turns, but not for Any long,
From Charm to Charm with eager Gust I rove,
Resolv'd to taste Variety of Love;
But, soon as I behold my heavenly Fair,
My wand'ring Fancy stops and settles there:
The Beauties of the Sex I find in One,
For She's a Magazine of Charms alone.
The slighted Nymphs yet bless Her with their Voice,
And Envy's self approves the happy Choice.
The soft Seraglio's private Walls confine;
Where blooming Virgins ripen to Desire,
And bright Sultanas glow with practis'd Fire:
Oft, as I sigh amidst the beauteous Throng
For All by turns, but not for Any long,
From Charm to Charm with eager Gust I rove,
Resolv'd to taste Variety of Love;
But, soon as I behold my heavenly Fair,
My wand'ring Fancy stops and settles there:
The Beauties of the Sex I find in One,
For She's a Magazine of Charms alone.
The slighted Nymphs yet bless Her with their Voice,
And Envy's self approves the happy Choice.
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But who is This, that with Her glorious Eyes,
Looks like the Morn, and emulates the Skies?
Fair as the Moon, reflecting Silver Light,
Strong as the golden Sun, and beamy bright.
So glittering Spears that gild the dreadful War
With fatal Gleams shine trembling from afar.
Down in the Grove of Spices as I stood,
To view the rising Flow'rs and pregnant Bud;
The Trees in Verdure Green, with bloomy Shade
And mingled Light, a lively Landskip made:
Yet when Her distant Eyes like Stars appear,
My ready Senses start and center there:
Wing'd with Desire, my Soul outflies the Wind,
And the bright Scene neglected leaves behind.
Looks like the Morn, and emulates the Skies?
Fair as the Moon, reflecting Silver Light,
Strong as the golden Sun, and beamy bright.
So glittering Spears that gild the dreadful War
With fatal Gleams shine trembling from afar.
Down in the Grove of Spices as I stood,
To view the rising Flow'rs and pregnant Bud;
The Trees in Verdure Green, with bloomy Shade
And mingled Light, a lively Landskip made:
Yet when Her distant Eyes like Stars appear,
My ready Senses start and center there:
Wing'd with Desire, my Soul outflies the Wind,
And the bright Scene neglected leaves behind.
| The Fair Circassian, A Dramatic Performance | |