 | [Poems by Drake in] The life and works of Joseph Rodman Drake (1795-1820) |  |
259
To Lais
Nay, think not, dear Lais, I feel a regret
That another awakened thy sigh,
Or repine that some traces remain of it yet,
In the beam of that eloquent eye.
That another awakened thy sigh,
Or repine that some traces remain of it yet,
In the beam of that eloquent eye.
Though the light of its smile on a rival had shone,
Ere it taught me the way to adore,
Shall I scorn the bright gem, now I know it my own,
Because it was polished before?
Ere it taught me the way to adore,
Shall I scorn the bright gem, now I know it my own,
Because it was polished before?
And though oft the rich sweets of that lip hath been won,
It but fits it the better for bliss,
As fruit, when caressed by the bright glowing sun,
Grows ripe from the warmth of its kiss.
It but fits it the better for bliss,
As fruit, when caressed by the bright glowing sun,
Grows ripe from the warmth of its kiss.
260
As the artist enkindles the diamond's blaze,
As the grape blushes ripe in the summer sun's rays,
So joy from our soul, will each blemish remove,
And our heart be matured in the sunshine of love.
As the grape blushes ripe in the summer sun's rays,
So joy from our soul, will each blemish remove,
And our heart be matured in the sunshine of love.
But remember, dear girl, that the polisher's sway,
May wear the pure spark of the diamond away,
And the sun's burning kiss, all its blandishments o'er,
Will taint the fair fruit it has ripened before.
May wear the pure spark of the diamond away,
And the sun's burning kiss, all its blandishments o'er,
Will taint the fair fruit it has ripened before.
| [Poems by Drake in] The life and works of Joseph Rodman Drake (1795-1820) | |