A Collection of Miscellanies Consisting of Poems, Essays, Discourses & Letters, Occasionally Written. By John Norris ... The Second Edition Corrected |
 |
The Arrest.
|
 | A Collection of Miscellanies |  |
The Arrest.
I
Whither so fast fond Passion dost thou rove,Licentious and unconfin'd?
Sure this is not the proper Sphere of Love,
Obey; and be not deaf, as thou art blind.
All is so false and treacherous here
That I must love with Caution, and enjoy with fear.
II
Contract thy Sails, lest a too gusty blastMake thee from shore launch out too far;
Weigh well this Ocean, e're thou make such haste,
It has a nature very singular.
Men of the treacherous shore complain
In other Seas, but here most Danger's in the Main.
101
III
Should'st thou, my Soul, indulge thy forward Love,And not controul its headlong course,
The Object in th' enjoyment vain will prove,
And thou on Nothing fall with all thy force.
So th' eager Hawk makes sure of's prize,
Strikes with full might, but overshoots himself and dyes.
IV
Or should'st thou with long search on something lightThat might content and stay thy mind,
All good's here wing'd, and stands prepar'd for flight,
'Twill leave thee reaching out in vain, behind.
Then when unconstant fate thou'st proved,
Thou'lt sigh, and say with tears, I wish I ne're had loved.
V
Well then ye softer Powers that love CommandAnd wound our Breasts with pleasing smart,
Gage well your Launce, and bear a steddy hand,
Lest it run in too deep into my Heart.
Or if you're fix'd in your design
Deeply to wound my Heart, wound it with Love divine.
| A Collection of Miscellanies | |