Poems on Several Occasions To which is added Gondibert and Birtha, A Tragedy. By William Thompson |
 | 1. |
ON Writing Laura's Name in the Snow. |
 | 2. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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ON Writing Laura's Name in the Snow.
Thirsis and Damon.Thirsis.
Why, Damon, write you Laura's Name
In snowy Letters? prithee, say:
Was it her Coldness to express,
Or shew thy Love wou'd melt away?
Or, rather, was it This? Because
When She is nam'd you burn and glow,
Therefore in Hopes to cool your Breast
You writ the Charmer's Name in Snow?
Damon,
Thirsis, since Ink wou'd blot her Charms,
In Snow I chose her Name to write;
Since only Snow like her is pure,
Is soft alone, alone is white.
Perhaps the Air her Name may freeze,
And every Letter grow a Gem;
143
And owe their Rays to Stella's Name.
A Monarch for the precious Name
Might then with half his Kingdom part,
Despise the Jewels on his Crown,
To wear my Laura near his Heart.
Thirsis.
In vain. Behold the Noontide Sun
Dissolves it with his amorous Flame:—
The liquid Syllables are lost:
Now, Damon, where is Laura's Name?
Damon.
Too true: yet tho' her Name dissolves;
The shining Drops shall not be lost:
I'll drink Them as They weep away,
And still her Name shall be my Toast.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |