The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
 | III, IV, V. |
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THE MAGNET. |
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| VI, VII. |
| VIII. |
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
THE MAGNET.
Why force the backward heart on love,
That of itself the flame might feel?
When you the Magnet's power would prove,
Say, would you strike it on the Steel?
That of itself the flame might feel?
When you the Magnet's power would prove,
Say, would you strike it on the Steel?
From common flints you may by force
Excite some transient sparks of fire;
And so, in natures rude and coarse,
Compulsion may provoke desire.
Excite some transient sparks of fire;
And so, in natures rude and coarse,
Compulsion may provoke desire.
But when, approaching by degrees,
The Magnet to the Steel draws nigh,
At once they feel, each other seize,
And rest in mutual sympathy.
The Magnet to the Steel draws nigh,
At once they feel, each other seize,
And rest in mutual sympathy.
107
So must the Lover find his way
To move the heart he hopes to win—
Must not in distant forms delay—
Must not in rude assaults begin.
To move the heart he hopes to win—
Must not in distant forms delay—
Must not in rude assaults begin.
For such attractive power has Love,
We justly each extreme may fear:
'T is lost when we too distant prove,
And when we rashly press too near.
We justly each extreme may fear:
'T is lost when we too distant prove,
And when we rashly press too near.
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |