The Harp of Erin Containing the Poetical Works of the Late Thomas Dermody. In Two Volumes |
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BALLAD,
Imitated from the Spanish of Cervantes. |
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 | The Harp of Erin |  |
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BALLAD, Imitated from the Spanish of Cervantes.
Kind Guardian! if you will, you may
With bolts, and bars, oppose my way;
In ev'ry nook set guards, and spies,
To watch me with their Argus-eyes;
But if my heart is fixed on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
With bolts, and bars, oppose my way;
In ev'ry nook set guards, and spies,
To watch me with their Argus-eyes;
But if my heart is fixed on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
By sages shrewd it has been said,
'Tis wond'rous hard to hold a maid;
And Love, all furious when confin'd,
But fiercer fires the stubborn mind;
'Tis better then, since force is vain,
To turn the lock, and loose the chain;
For if my heart is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
'Tis wond'rous hard to hold a maid;
And Love, all furious when confin'd,
But fiercer fires the stubborn mind;
'Tis better then, since force is vain,
To turn the lock, and loose the chain;
For if my heart is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
If sov'reign will commands to go,
What fool will face so rash a foe?
'Twill strike ev'n wakeful caution blind,
And through death's self a passage find;
Unheard-of means shall straight remove
All bars that hinder woman's love;
So if my heart is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
What fool will face so rash a foe?
'Twill strike ev'n wakeful caution blind,
And through death's self a passage find;
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All bars that hinder woman's love;
So if my heart is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
As flies, though sure to scorch their frame,
Will wanton through the taper's flame;
So love all danger will despise,
Resistless rushing to its prize;
Then if my mind is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
Will wanton through the taper's flame;
So love all danger will despise,
Resistless rushing to its prize;
Then if my mind is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
When I my purpose chuse to keep,
Severity, alas! may sleep:
A lover's palm, like wax, is warm,
'Tis melting warm; his wish is fire;
No obstacles his patience tire;
But head will plot, and hand perform;
His eyes can talk; his careful feet
Are silence-shod, your ears to cheat;
And as my mind is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
Severity, alas! may sleep:
A lover's palm, like wax, is warm,
'Tis melting warm; his wish is fire;
No obstacles his patience tire;
But head will plot, and hand perform;
His eyes can talk; his careful feet
Are silence-shod, your ears to cheat;
And as my mind is fix'd on flight,
You may as well wish me good night.
| The Harp of Erin | |