Female Poems On Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

Passion's force compels me now to write,
And aggravates the wrongs I fain wou'd slight:
They to my Soul in such loud clamours speak,
That Reason to resist them is too weak:
First Rage, or Anger, (call it which you please)
VVhispers my Soul, bear such affronts as these?
Can your great Mind be unconcern'd, when you
VVith your own Eyes did such a passage view?
Can you with Patience hear him say, he dare
Not stir from thence while that sond Fool is there?
Oh! where is all your former Greatness gone?
You in this Act the Stoicks have out done:
He calls you fond, and kind, but let him see
You can disdain such petty things as he:
Thus Anger counsel'd me to do,—but when
I strove to obey her Dictats, ah! then

Something like Pitty in your Cause did plead,
And my faint Anger did in Triumph lead:
Shame pleaded next, and mildly did request,
She might not quite be exil'd from my brest,
VVhich she must be, if I shou'd entertain
But the least Thought of loving you again;
For when first notice of the words I took,
Such heat and blood into my Face it struck,
My self cou'd hardly tell for what it came,
VVhether I blush'd for Anger or for Shame:
But when your face I saw, I straight grew cold,
I started, trembl'd, and my Eye-balls roul'd:
The breath I had scarce serv'd me to retire,
E're in a Swound I gently did expire.
But my high Thoughts, and too too gen'rous Flame,
Scorn'd to be curbed by a needless Shame:
Hate pleaded next, fiercer than all the rest,
And yet a greater stranger to my brest;
For my calme brest, till now was ne're the Seat
Of Surly Passion, or unruly Heat,

Hate urg'd, each Action look'd as done in scorn,
Then asked if I to bear affronts was born:
This and much more She said, but all in vain,
Ill thoughts of you I ne're cou'd entertain;
Your great Affronts, I witty Jests did think,
And at coy Looks would turn my head, or wink:
Nay, when you gave such proofs of your Disdain,
That I must see't, I gav't another Name;
I only thought you saw me go astray,
And generously put me in my way.
How strangely is my Life perplex'd by fate!
I wou'd not Love, and yet I cannot hate.