The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour collated with the ms. volume of his poems, and containing several pieces hitherto unpublished; with illustrative notes, and an account of the life of the author. By James Paterson |
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HORACE, BOOK I., ODE XXIII., IMITATED. |
The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | ||
HORACE, BOOK I., ODE XXIII., IMITATED.
TO A GENTLEMAN IN LOVE.
Why dost thou still in tears complain,
Too mindful of thy love's disdain?
Why still in melancholy verse
Unmeek Maria's hate rehearse?
That Thirsis finds, by fate's decree,
More favour in her sight than thee?
The love of Cyrus does enthral
Lycoris fair, with forehead small;
Cyrus declines to Pholoe's eyes,
Who unrelenting hears his sighs:
But wolves and lambs shall sooner join,
Than they in mutual faith combine.
So seemeth good to Love, who binds
Unequal forms, unequal minds;
Cruel in his brazen yoke,
Pleas'd with too severe a joke.
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My laundress held in pleasing chain;
When, pliable to love's delights,
My age excus'd the poet's flights;
More wrathful she than storms that roar
Along the Solway's crooked shore.
The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | ||