 | Poems |  |
378
BEWARE!
Shun the dimples of her cheek;
Flee the lustres of her eyes;
Fear to hear her softly speak;
More, to drink her honied sighs;
For who sees her, henceforth sees,
Night and day, but her for ever;
He who hears her, henceforth frees
His thoughts from her meshes, never;
Peace no more with you shall dwell
If you give her not farewell.
Flee the lustres of her eyes;
Fear to hear her softly speak;
More, to drink her honied sighs;
For who sees her, henceforth sees,
Night and day, but her for ever;
He who hears her, henceforth frees
His thoughts from her meshes, never;
Peace no more with you shall dwell
If you give her not farewell.
She is false, as she is fair;
Open dangers who'll not shun?
He who woos and wins despair,
He shall pity gain from none;
For her eyes the Gorgon's are
Which, if you but once are seeing,
Even a moment from afar,
Fixed you find, farewell to fleeing;
Peace no more your days shall bless,
Nor your nights sweet quietness.
Open dangers who'll not shun?
He who woos and wins despair,
He shall pity gain from none;
For her eyes the Gorgon's are
Which, if you but once are seeing,
Even a moment from afar,
Fixed you find, farewell to fleeing;
Peace no more your days shall bless,
Nor your nights sweet quietness.
Striped the snake is—from it start;
Dread her fairness while you may;
She would mesh and mock your heart;
She would with your passion play;
Webs but tangle foolish flies;
Silly fish, the angler's snaring;
In her, plain, your ruin lies,
Ruin that there's no repairing;
Caught by her, you'll strive in vain
Ever to be free again.
Dread her fairness while you may;
She would mesh and mock your heart;
She would with your passion play;
Webs but tangle foolish flies;
Silly fish, the angler's snaring;
In her, plain, your ruin lies,
Ruin that there's no repairing;
Caught by her, you'll strive in vain
Ever to be free again.
Face her not; less danger is
In the cannon's blazing breath
Than in eyes and smiles that kiss,
And then freeze you straight to death;
Sirens are they all that weave
Subtle webs, their prey to make us;
Won, they then no more deceive;
Toys that please no more, they break us;
Yet be saved, while yet you may;
Fling not peace, O heart, away.
In the cannon's blazing breath
Than in eyes and smiles that kiss,
And then freeze you straight to death;
Sirens are they all that weave
Subtle webs, their prey to make us;
379
Toys that please no more, they break us;
Yet be saved, while yet you may;
Fling not peace, O heart, away.
| Poems | |