The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose Now First Collected with a Prefatory Memoir by his Nephews W. E. and Sir Bartle Frere |
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 | The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose |  |
Carm. XCI.—Non ideo Gelli, &c.
Gellius, it never once was my design,In all that wretched, tedious love of mine,
To treat you as a worthy man or just,
Alive to shame, susceptible of trust,
In word or act true, faithful, or sincere;
But since that idol which my heart held dear
Was not your sister, niece, or near of kin,
The slight inducement of so small a sin
As broken faith to a confiding friend,
Would scarce, methought, allure you to descend
From those proud heights of wickedness sublime—
Giant ambition that aspires to climb
The topmost pinnacles of human guilt:—
—To make the mistress of your friend a jilt
Appear'd too poor a triumph. I was blind
To that perpetual relish which you find
In crimes of all degrees and every kind.
| The Works of John Hookham Frere In Verse and Prose | |