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Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn

edited by Dr. Shelton Mackenzie

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16

Myself.

Shall I wasting in despair,
Die because a woman's fair?
Or make pale my cheek with care,
Because another's rosy are?
Be she fairer than the day,
Or the flowery fields in May;
If she think not well of me,
What care I how fair she be?
Should my heart be grieved or pine,
'Cause I see a woman kind?
Or a well-disposed nature
Joined with a lovely feature?
Be she meeker, kinder than
Turtle-dove or pelican;
If she be not so to me,
What care I how kind she be?
Shall a woman's virtues move
Me to perish for her love?
Or her well-deservings known
Make me quite forget my own?
Be she with such goodness blest
As may gain her name of Best:
If she be not such to me,
What care I how good she be?
'Cause her fortune seems too high,
Shall I play the fool and die?
Those that bear a noble mind,
When they want of riches find,
Think what with them they would do,
Who without them dare to woo;
And unless that mind I see,
What care I though great she be?

17

Great, or good, or kind, or fair,
I will ne'er the more despair—
If she love me, this believe,
I will die ere she shall grieve;
If she slight me when I woo,
I can scorn and let her go;
If she be not made for me,
What care I for whom she be?