The Works of Soame Jenyns ... In Four Volumes. Including Several Pieces Never Before Published. To Which are Prefixed, Short Sketches of the History of the Author's Family, and also of his Life; By Charles Nalson Cole |
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CHLOE ANGLING. |
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 | The Works of Soame Jenyns |  |
152
CHLOE ANGLING.
On yon fair brook's enamell'd side
Behold my Chloe stands!
Her angle trembles o'er the tide,
As conscious of her hands.
Behold my Chloe stands!
Her angle trembles o'er the tide,
As conscious of her hands.
Calm as the gentle waves appear,
Her thoughts serenely flow,
Calm as the softly breathing air,
That curls the brook below.
Her thoughts serenely flow,
Calm as the softly breathing air,
That curls the brook below.
Such charms her sparkling eyes disclose,
With such soft pow'r endu'd,
She seems a new-born Venus, rose
From the transparent flood.
With such soft pow'r endu'd,
She seems a new-born Venus, rose
From the transparent flood.
From each green bank, and mossy cave,
The scaly race repair,
They sport beneath the crystal wave,
And kiss her image there.
The scaly race repair,
They sport beneath the crystal wave,
And kiss her image there.
153
Here the bright silver eel enroll'd
In shining volumes lies,
There basks the carp bedropt with gold
In the sunshine of her eyes.
In shining volumes lies,
There basks the carp bedropt with gold
In the sunshine of her eyes.
With hungry pikes in wanton play
The tim'rous trouts appear;
The hungry pikes forget to prey,
The tim'rous trouts to fear.
The tim'rous trouts appear;
The hungry pikes forget to prey,
The tim'rous trouts to fear.
With equal haste the thoughtless crew
To the fair tempter fly;
Nor grieve they, whilst her eyes they view,
That by her hand they die.
To the fair tempter fly;
Nor grieve they, whilst her eyes they view,
That by her hand they die.
Thus I too view'd the nymph of late;
Ah simple fish, beware!
Soon will you find my wretched fate,
And struggle in the snare.
Ah simple fish, beware!
Soon will you find my wretched fate,
And struggle in the snare.
But, Fair-one, tho' these toils succeed,
Of conquest be not vain;
Nor think o'er all the scaly breed
Unpunish'd thus to reign.
Of conquest be not vain;
Nor think o'er all the scaly breed
Unpunish'd thus to reign.
154
Remember, in a wat'ry glass
His charms Narcissus spy'd,
When for his own bewitching face
The youth despair'd and dy'd.
His charms Narcissus spy'd,
When for his own bewitching face
The youth despair'd and dy'd.
No more then harmless fish insnare,
No more such wiles pursue;
Lest, whilst you baits for them prepare,
Love finds out one for you.
No more such wiles pursue;
Lest, whilst you baits for them prepare,
Love finds out one for you.
| The Works of Soame Jenyns | |