 | Poems by Three Friends |  |
122
LINES WRITTEN IN A LADY'S ALBUM.
Though, Lady, I have loved 'tis true,
Have fondly loved the Muse's smiles,
I oft resolved to bid adieu
For ever to her syren wiles.
Have fondly loved the Muse's smiles,
I oft resolved to bid adieu
For ever to her syren wiles.
Yet long the parting hour delay'd,
Would still those syren wiles prolong
“Tis but for once, I've often said,
“And Beauty's lips demand the song.
Would still those syren wiles prolong
“Tis but for once, I've often said,
“And Beauty's lips demand the song.
123
“And who can Beauty's wish refuse,
“Ne'er felt a spark of minstrel fire,
“He who denies when Woman sues,
“Let not his hand profane the lyre.”
“Ne'er felt a spark of minstrel fire,
“He who denies when Woman sues,
“Let not his hand profane the lyre.”
Thus have I lingered, fondly loth
To bid the witching art adieu,
That charmed my unsuspecting youth,
And with my years yet stronger grew.
To bid the witching art adieu,
That charmed my unsuspecting youth,
And with my years yet stronger grew.
But when the crabbed page of Law,
Demanded every studious hour,
I thought to tread her fanes with awe,
And quit for aye the Muse's bower.
Demanded every studious hour,
I thought to tread her fanes with awe,
And quit for aye the Muse's bower.
I all but vowed my hand no more
Should sweep the harp's rude strings along;
I all but said the charm was o'er,
That gained the half-reluctant song.
Should sweep the harp's rude strings along;
I all but said the charm was o'er,
That gained the half-reluctant song.
124
But these rude lines, alas, will prove
How weak is duty's firm resolve,
To quit the dear pursuit we love,
If Beauty's lips the fault absolve.
How weak is duty's firm resolve,
To quit the dear pursuit we love,
If Beauty's lips the fault absolve.
You asked me for some trifling lay,
And held your book,—what could I do,
But turn from my resolves away,
And leave my broken vows to you?
And held your book,—what could I do,
But turn from my resolves away,
And leave my broken vows to you?
For though to casuist reasoning prone,
A Templar sure may argue right,
And plead that your seducing tone,
Must needs absolve the luckless wight,
A Templar sure may argue right,
And plead that your seducing tone,
Must needs absolve the luckless wight,
Who let his roving fancy stray
From Croke and Salkeld's dull reports,
And dared more glad attendance pay
On H---'s, than Eldon's courts.
From Croke and Salkeld's dull reports,
And dared more glad attendance pay
On H---'s, than Eldon's courts.
125
And if stern gownsmen should deny
The recreant student's written plea,
I'll bid them mark thy beaming eye,
And safely leave my cause to thee.
The recreant student's written plea,
I'll bid them mark thy beaming eye,
And safely leave my cause to thee.
| Poems by Three Friends | |