 | Poems |  |
176
THE APOLOGY.
TO MISS I---T.
Break my word, sweet nymph, with thee—
Justly may'st thou be severe:
But ere pass'd the sentence be,
My defence vouchsafe to hear.
Justly may'st thou be severe:
But ere pass'd the sentence be,
My defence vouchsafe to hear.
Where the young and gay resort,
All the purpose is to please;
There delight, her smiling court,
Holds with love, and health and ease.
All the purpose is to please;
There delight, her smiling court,
Holds with love, and health and ease.
Moping, melancholy care,
Languid, heart-depressing pain;
Never sure should enter there,
Sad and sable-suited train!
Languid, heart-depressing pain;
Never sure should enter there,
Sad and sable-suited train!
Grown with these familiar late,
Complaisant they will not be:
Nor their fierce attacks abate,
I---t, tho' charm'd by thee!
Complaisant they will not be:
Nor their fierce attacks abate,
I---t, tho' charm'd by thee!
Why then, when my gladsome heart,
To delight rejoices most:
Shou'd I give a moment's smart,
When the power to please is lost?
To delight rejoices most:
Shou'd I give a moment's smart,
When the power to please is lost?
177
Deem not therefore, fair one blest
With a form which speaks thy mind;
Deem not this too feeling breast,
Senseless, or to beauty blind!
With a form which speaks thy mind;
Deem not this too feeling breast,
Senseless, or to beauty blind!
From the raptures when I flee
Of society like thine;
Gentle sensibility
Owns the fault is never mine!
Of society like thine;
Gentle sensibility
Owns the fault is never mine!
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