 | The poems (1969) |  |
406
6 Written on a Paper which Contained a Piece of Bride Cake given to the Author by a Lady
Ye curious hands, that, hid from vulgar eyes,
By search profane shall find this hallowed cake,
With virtue's awe forbear the sacred prize,
Nor dare a theft for love and pity's sake!
By search profane shall find this hallowed cake,
With virtue's awe forbear the sacred prize,
Nor dare a theft for love and pity's sake!
407
This precious relic, formed by magic power,
Beneath her shepherd's haunted pillow laid,
Was meant by love to charm the silent hour,
The secret present of a matchless maid.
Beneath her shepherd's haunted pillow laid,
Was meant by love to charm the silent hour,
The secret present of a matchless maid.
The Cyprian queen, at Hymen's fond request,
Each nice ingredient chose with happiest art;
Fears, sighs and wishes of the enamoured breast,
And pains that please, are mixed in every part.
Each nice ingredient chose with happiest art;
Fears, sighs and wishes of the enamoured breast,
And pains that please, are mixed in every part.
With rosy hand the spicy fruit she brought,
From Paphian hills and fair Cythera's isle;
And tempered sweet with these the melting thought,
The kiss ambrosial and the yielding smile;
From Paphian hills and fair Cythera's isle;
And tempered sweet with these the melting thought,
The kiss ambrosial and the yielding smile;
Ambiguous looks, that scorn and yet relent,
Denials mild and firm unaltered truth,
Reluctant pride and amorous faint consent,
And meeting ardours and exulting youth.
Denials mild and firm unaltered truth,
Reluctant pride and amorous faint consent,
And meeting ardours and exulting youth.
Sleep, wayward god! hath sworn, while these remain,
With flattering dreams to dry his nightly tear,
And cheerful Hope, so oft invoked in vain,
With fairy songs shall soothe his pensive ear.
With flattering dreams to dry his nightly tear,
And cheerful Hope, so oft invoked in vain,
With fairy songs shall soothe his pensive ear.
If, bound by vows to friendship's gentle side,
And fond of soul, thou hop'st an equal grace,
If youth or maid thy joys and griefs divide,
O much intreated, leave this fatal place.
And fond of soul, thou hop'st an equal grace,
If youth or maid thy joys and griefs divide,
O much intreated, leave this fatal place.
408
Sweet Peace, who long hath shunned my plaintive day,
Consents at length to bring me short delight:
Thy careless steps may scare her doves away,
And grief with raven note usurp the night.
Consents at length to bring me short delight:
Thy careless steps may scare her doves away,
And grief with raven note usurp the night.
| The poems (1969) | |