 | The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe |  |
LOVE AND CARE.
AN ALLEGORY.
A youth was traveling on a summer's day,
When suddenly a stranger
Appeared before him, saying, “Sir your way
Is rough and full of danger;
When suddenly a stranger
Appeared before him, saying, “Sir your way
Is rough and full of danger;
“And I—you 've heard of me; my name is Care—
Intend, for your protection,
To dog your steps, and watch you, everywhere,
With keen but kind inspection!”
Intend, for your protection,
To dog your steps, and watch you, everywhere,
With keen but kind inspection!”
A surly wight he seemed; and so the lad,
Who wished not his assistance,
Stept off with quickened pace; while, slow and sad,
Care followed at a distance,
Who wished not his assistance,
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Care followed at a distance,
And soon the youth espies along the way,
Tripping in wanton measure,
A dashing damsel, very fine and gay;
Her name (she said, was Pleasure.
Tripping in wanton measure,
A dashing damsel, very fine and gay;
Her name (she said, was Pleasure.
“Come! follow me!” the merry maiden cried,
With peals of silver laughter;
“I will,—I will!” the joyful youth replied,
And gayly followed after.
With peals of silver laughter;
“I will,—I will!” the joyful youth replied,
And gayly followed after.
Alas! she led him such a crazy dance,
He presently grew tired,—
And stopt, at length,—unwilling to advance
Through paths so much bemired.
He presently grew tired,—
And stopt, at length,—unwilling to advance
Through paths so much bemired.
To Pleasure's ways no longer now inclined,
He offered small resistance
When Care came up (for he was close behind)
And tendered his assistance.
He offered small resistance
When Care came up (for he was close behind)
And tendered his assistance.
But soon escaping from his hated guide,
He spied a pensive maiden
Of wondrous beauty,—by a fountain's side,—
With sprigs of myrtle laden.
He spied a pensive maiden
Of wondrous beauty,—by a fountain's side,—
With sprigs of myrtle laden.
“O Love!” he cried, (for truly it was she!)
“I beg your kind endeavor
From this detested Care to set me free,—
And keep me so forever!”
“I beg your kind endeavor
From this detested Care to set me free,—
And keep me so forever!”
“Nay!” said the maid; “and yet my votaries swear,
My charms are so beguiling,
That in my cheering presence even Care
Has got a trick of smiling!”
My charms are so beguiling,
That in my cheering presence even Care
Has got a trick of smiling!”
| The poetical works of John Godfrey Saxe | |