The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd ... To Which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author. By W. Kenrick ... In Two Volumes |
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THE MILK-MAID. |
 | The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd |  |
51
THE MILK-MAID.
Whoe'er for pleasure plans a scheme,
Will find it vanish like a dream,
Affording nothing sound or real,
Where happiness is all ideal;
In grief, in joy, or either state,
Fancy will always antedate,
And when the thoughts on evil pore,
Anticipation makes it more.
Thus while the mind the future sees,
It cancels all its present ease.
Will find it vanish like a dream,
Affording nothing sound or real,
Where happiness is all ideal;
In grief, in joy, or either state,
Fancy will always antedate,
And when the thoughts on evil pore,
Anticipation makes it more.
Thus while the mind the future sees,
It cancels all its present ease.
Is Pleasure's scheme the point in view;
How eagerly we all pursue!
How eagerly we all pursue!
Well—Tuesday is th'appointed day;
How slowly wears the time away!
How dull the interval between,
How darken'd o'er with clouds of spleen,
Did not the mind unlock her treasure,
And fancy feed on promis'd pleasure.
How slowly wears the time away!
How dull the interval between,
How darken'd o'er with clouds of spleen,
Did not the mind unlock her treasure,
And fancy feed on promis'd pleasure.
Delia surveys, with curious eyes,
The clouds collected in the skies;
Wishes no storm may rend the air,
And Tuesday may be dry and fair;
And I look round, my boys, and pray,
That Tuesday may be holiday.
Things duly settled—what remains?
Lo! Tuesday comes—alas! it rains;
And all our visionary schemes
Have died away, like golden dreams.
The clouds collected in the skies;
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And Tuesday may be dry and fair;
And I look round, my boys, and pray,
That Tuesday may be holiday.
Things duly settled—what remains?
Lo! Tuesday comes—alas! it rains;
And all our visionary schemes
Have died away, like golden dreams.
Once on a time, a rustic dame,
(No matter for the lady's name)
Wrapt up in deep imagination,
Indulg'd her pleasing contemplation;
While on a bench she took her seat,
And plac'd the milk-pail at her feet,
Oft in her hand she chink'd the pence,
The profits which arose from thence;
While fond ideas fill'd her brain,
Of layings up, and monstrous gain,
Till every penny which she told,
Creative fancy turn'd to gold;
And reasoning thus from computation,
She spoke aloud her meditation.
(No matter for the lady's name)
Wrapt up in deep imagination,
Indulg'd her pleasing contemplation;
While on a bench she took her seat,
And plac'd the milk-pail at her feet,
Oft in her hand she chink'd the pence,
The profits which arose from thence;
While fond ideas fill'd her brain,
Of layings up, and monstrous gain,
Till every penny which she told,
Creative fancy turn'd to gold;
And reasoning thus from computation,
She spoke aloud her meditation.
“Please heav'n but to preserve my health,
“No doubt I shall have store of wealth;
“It must of consequence ensue
“I shall have store of lovers too.
“Oh! how I'll break their stubborn hearts,
“With all the pride of female arts.
“What Suitors then will kneel before me!
“Lords, Earls, and Viscounts shall adore me.
“When in my gilded coach I ride,
“My Lady at his Lordship's side,
“How will I laugh at all I meet
“Clatt'ring in pattins down the street!
“And Lobbin then I'll mind no more,
“Howe'er I lov'd him heretofore;
“Or, if he talks of plighted truth,
“I will not hear the simple youth,
“But rise indignant from my seat,
“And spurn the lubber from my feet.
Action, alas! the speaker's grace,
Ne'er came in more improper place,
For in the tossing forth her shoe,
What fancied bliss the maid o'erthrew!
While down at once, with hideous fall,
Came lovers, wealth, and milk, and all.
Thus fancy ever loves to roam,
To bring the gay materials home;
Imagination forms the dream,
And accident destroys the scheme.
“No doubt I shall have store of wealth;
53
“I shall have store of lovers too.
“Oh! how I'll break their stubborn hearts,
“With all the pride of female arts.
“What Suitors then will kneel before me!
“Lords, Earls, and Viscounts shall adore me.
“When in my gilded coach I ride,
“My Lady at his Lordship's side,
“How will I laugh at all I meet
“Clatt'ring in pattins down the street!
“And Lobbin then I'll mind no more,
“Howe'er I lov'd him heretofore;
“Or, if he talks of plighted truth,
“I will not hear the simple youth,
“But rise indignant from my seat,
“And spurn the lubber from my feet.
Action, alas! the speaker's grace,
Ne'er came in more improper place,
For in the tossing forth her shoe,
What fancied bliss the maid o'erthrew!
While down at once, with hideous fall,
Came lovers, wealth, and milk, and all.
Thus fancy ever loves to roam,
To bring the gay materials home;
Imagination forms the dream,
And accident destroys the scheme.
| The Poetical Works of Robert Lloyd | |