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 volume of his poems, and containing several pieces hitherto unpublished; with illustrative notes, and an account of the life of the author.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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 | The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour |  |
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[Ye shepherds and nymphs that adorn the gay plain]
Ye shepherds and nymphs that adorn the gay plain,
Approach from your sports, and attend to my strain;
Amongst all your number a lover so true
Was ne'er so undone, with such bliss in his view.
Approach from your sports, and attend to my strain;
Amongst all your number a lover so true
Was ne'er so undone, with such bliss in his view.
Was ever a nymph so hard-hearted as mine?
She knows me sincere, and she sees how I pine;
She does not disdain me, nor frown in her wrath,
But calmly and mildly resigns me to death.
She knows me sincere, and she sees how I pine;
She does not disdain me, nor frown in her wrath,
But calmly and mildly resigns me to death.
She calls me her friend, but her lover denies;
She smiles when I'm cheerful, but hears not my sighs.
A bosom so flinty, so gentle an air,
Inspires me with hope, and yet bids me despair!
She smiles when I'm cheerful, but hears not my sighs.
A bosom so flinty, so gentle an air,
Inspires me with hope, and yet bids me despair!
I fall at her feet, and implore her with tears:
Her answer confounds, while her manner endears;
When softly she tells me to hope no relief,
My trembling lips bliss her in spite of my grief.
Her answer confounds, while her manner endears;
When softly she tells me to hope no relief,
My trembling lips bliss her in spite of my grief.
By night, while I slumber, still haunted with care
I start up in anguish, and sigh for the fair:
The fair sleeps in peace; may she ever do so!
And only when dreaming imagine me so!
I start up in anguish, and sigh for the fair:
The fair sleeps in peace; may she ever do so!
And only when dreaming imagine me so!
Then gaze at a distance, nor farther aspire,
Nor think she should love whom she cannot admire;
Hush all thy complaining, and dying her slave,
Commend her to heaven, and thyself to the grave.
Nor think she should love whom she cannot admire;
Hush all thy complaining, and dying her slave,
Commend her to heaven, and thyself to the grave.
| The poems and songs of William Hamilton of Bangour | |