The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
A SONG.
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The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | ||
170
A SONG.
[O that e'er I knew thee! now, no more I woo thee]
I
O that e'er I knew thee! now, no more I woo thee,Charmer of my soul! I must away,
Honour now demands me—love of thee withstands me;
Tell me, which of these I must obey?
Alas! I would with-hold thee—ever, thus, enfold thee,
But I dare not stay thee—no—I yield:
Glory, and promotion—call thee o'er the ocean,
Go, be brave, and conquer—grace the field.
II
Stay, thou hasty rover—stay, thou frosty lover;Turn, and ease a heart, that breaks with pain:
What, if death should reach thee—go not, I beseech thee;
Honour is a cheat—Oh! turn again.
171
Sweeter far, than eyes e'er saw before?
Man is maid's deceiver—wins her, but to leave her,
Never, If I loose thee, smile I more.
III
Tell me true, sincerely—maids, who love so dearly,But there ne'er was maid, yet, lov'd like me,
Tell me, cou'd you lose him?—wou'd you not accuse him?
Wou'd you not refuse, to set him free?
Shall I, who love his glory—blot his name, from story?
Man was made to guard his country's fame.
She, who so restrains him—for disgrace, detains him,
Shall a love, like his, be paid, with shame?
IV
Go, my brave alarmer!—go, my daring charmer!Go, and come again, with ten-fold grace:
Fight, to bless, and save me—foes shall ne'er enslave me;
To no chain, but yours, my pride gives place.
172
Will our leaping hearts each other give!
You, with triumph, blazing—I, with rapture, gazing,
Lov'd, and loving long, we both shall live.
The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | ||