The lay of an Irish harp or metrical fragments. By Miss Owenson |
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XXX. |
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XXXII. | FRAGMENT XXXII.
CANZONA. |
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The lay of an Irish harp | ||
127
FRAGMENT XXXII. CANZONA.
I
Oh! should I fly from the world, Love, to thee,Would solitude render me dearer?
Would our flight from the world draw thee closer to me,
Or render thy passion sincerer?
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Than when its wild pulse fear'd detection?
Would the bliss unrestrain'd be more poignantly sweet
Than the bliss snatch'd by timid affection?
II
Though silence and solitude breathed all around,And each cold law of prudence was banish'd,
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We should sigh for those hours that are vanish'd.
When in secret we suffer'd, in secret were blest,
Lest the many should censure our union;
And an age of restraint, when oppos'd and opprest,
Was repaid by a moment's communion.
III
When virtue's pure tear dew'd our love's kindling beamIt hallow'd the bliss it repented;
When a penitent sigh breath'd o'er passion's wild dream
It absolv'd half the fault it lamented:
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In spite of each prudent restriction,
When the soul unrestrain'd met its warm kindred soul,
And we laugh'd at the world's interdiction!
IV
Then fly, oh my love! to the world back with me,Since the bliss it denies it enhances,
Since dearest the transient delight shar'd with thee,
Which is snatch'd from the world's prying glances:
Nor talk thus of death till the warm thrill of love
From each languid breast is retreating;
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When love's vital throb has ceas'd beating.
The lay of an Irish harp | ||