The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
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| III, IV, V. |
| VI, VII. |
| VIII. |
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
“Love has slow death and sudden: wretches prove
“That fate severe—the sudden death of love;
“It is as if, on day serenely bright,
“Came with its horrors instantaneous night;
“Others there are with whom love dies away
“In gradual waste and unperceived decay;
“Such is that death of love that nature finds
“Most fitted for the use of common minds,
“The natural death; but doubtless there are some
“Who struggle hard when they perceive it come;
“Loth to be loved no longer, loth to prove
“To the once dear that they no longer love:
“And some with not successless arts will strive
“To keep the weak'ning, fluttering flame alive.
“But see my verse; in this I try to paint
“The passion failing, fading to complaint,
“The gathering grief for joys remember'd yet,
“The vain remonstrance, and the weak regret:
“First speaks the wife in sorrow, she is grieved
“T' admit the truth, and would be still deceived.”
“That fate severe—the sudden death of love;
“It is as if, on day serenely bright,
“Came with its horrors instantaneous night;
“Others there are with whom love dies away
“In gradual waste and unperceived decay;
“Such is that death of love that nature finds
“Most fitted for the use of common minds,
“The natural death; but doubtless there are some
“Who struggle hard when they perceive it come;
“Loth to be loved no longer, loth to prove
“To the once dear that they no longer love:
“And some with not successless arts will strive
“To keep the weak'ning, fluttering flame alive.
“But see my verse; in this I try to paint
“The passion failing, fading to complaint,
“The gathering grief for joys remember'd yet,
“The vain remonstrance, and the weak regret:
“First speaks the wife in sorrow, she is grieved
“T' admit the truth, and would be still deceived.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |