Poems | ||
70
[When first the siren Beauty's face]
—Deus crudeliùs urit,
Quos videt invitos succubuisse sibi.
Tibull. I. viii. 7.
Quos videt invitos succubuisse sibi.
Tibull. I. viii. 7.
When first the siren Beauty's face
My wandering eye survey'd;
Unmov'd I saw each fraudful grace,
That 'round th' enchantress play'd:
My wandering eye survey'd;
Unmov'd I saw each fraudful grace,
That 'round th' enchantress play'd:
And still, with careless mien elate,
Defied the Paphian's wile;
As ambush'd in a look he sate,
Or couch'd beneath a smile:
Defied the Paphian's wile;
As ambush'd in a look he sate,
Or couch'd beneath a smile:
And still to rove I madly vow'd
Along the dangerous way,
Secure—where other boasters bow'd
Before the tyrant's sway.
Along the dangerous way,
Secure—where other boasters bow'd
Before the tyrant's sway.
72
Nor learn'd my breast to heave the sigh,
Or pour the secret heart;
'Till Myra from her beamy eye
Dispatch'd th' unerring dart:
Or pour the secret heart;
'Till Myra from her beamy eye
Dispatch'd th' unerring dart:
“Fly, fatal shaft” (with cruel zeal
The conscious murderess cried)
“And teach yon haughty boy to feel
“The anguish due to pride.”
The conscious murderess cried)
“And teach yon haughty boy to feel
“The anguish due to pride.”
To sooth the soul-subduing pain
Awhile I fondly strove;
But combated, alas! in vain,
Th' omnipotence of love.
Awhile I fondly strove;
But combated, alas! in vain,
Th' omnipotence of love.
Then ah! at length, stern power, forbear;
Thy wrath at length forego:
Enough my youth has felt of care,
Enough has tasted woe;
Thy wrath at length forego:
Enough my youth has felt of care,
Enough has tasted woe;
74
Or if, ordain'd by stubborn fate,
I drag th' eternal chain;
Doom'd, as I bend beneath its weight,
To court relief in vain:
I drag th' eternal chain;
Doom'd, as I bend beneath its weight,
To court relief in vain:
To Myra equal toil impart,
On her thy pang bestow;
Thrill with love's agony her heart,
And bid her suffer too.
On her thy pang bestow;
Thrill with love's agony her heart,
And bid her suffer too.
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