 | The poems, odes, songs, and other metrical effusions, of Samuel Woodworth |  |
69
TIME,
The Physician of Disappointed Love.
Venus in her car descended,
Drawn by little harmless doves,
Sportive graces round attended,
With a smiling band of loves.
Drawn by little harmless doves,
Sportive graces round attended,
With a smiling band of loves.
Roses in a chaplet crown'd her,
And she chose her flowery seat
Where the songsters warbled round her—
Hudson's billows kiss'd her feet.
And she chose her flowery seat
Where the songsters warbled round her—
Hudson's billows kiss'd her feet.
There I saw the queen of beauty,
Fondling Cupid in her arms,
And approach'd to pay my duty,
Ravish'd with her glowing charms.
Fondling Cupid in her arms,
And approach'd to pay my duty,
Ravish'd with her glowing charms.
“Goddess, famed in ancient legends”—
I exclaim'd—in posture low—
“Queen of love's celestial regions,
“Welcome to the realms below!
I exclaim'd—in posture low—
“Queen of love's celestial regions,
“Welcome to the realms below!
“I am told, the glance which captures,
“Springs alone from power of thine;
“Give me, then, love's burning raptures,
“Teach me love—and bliss is mine.”
“Springs alone from power of thine;
“Give me, then, love's burning raptures,
“Teach me love—and bliss is mine.”
70
Venus smil'd at my petition,
Gave the urchin's dart a kiss,
Who exclaim'd, “mama's permission
“Gives you now the promised bliss.
Gave the urchin's dart a kiss,
Who exclaim'd, “mama's permission
“Gives you now the promised bliss.
“Here's the means, and skill'd to use 'em,
“I but seldom miss the heart”—
Then within my throbbing bosom
Quick I felt the trembling dart.
“I but seldom miss the heart”—
Then within my throbbing bosom
Quick I felt the trembling dart.
How my glowing pulses bounded!
Like our sire, ere known to sin,
'Twas elysium that surrounded,
Joy and paradise within.
Like our sire, ere known to sin,
'Twas elysium that surrounded,
Joy and paradise within.
Hope, within her fragrant bowers,
Led me with a smile more sweet
Than the odoriferous flowers
Gaily blooming round our feet.
Led me with a smile more sweet
Than the odoriferous flowers
Gaily blooming round our feet.
“Yes,” I cried, “I thank thee, Venus,
“Hope and bliss will ne'er depart”—
When a demon sprang between us,
With a frown that froze the heart.
“Hope and bliss will ne'er depart”—
When a demon sprang between us,
With a frown that froze the heart.
Hope beheld, and fled affrighted,
While the fiend's disastrous breath
Blasted all that had delighted,
Flowers and choristers, in death.
While the fiend's disastrous breath
Blasted all that had delighted,
Flowers and choristers, in death.
71
'Twas the fiend of Disappointment—
How his touch my bosom chill'd,
Poison'd Hope's balsamic ointment,
And my wound with anguish fill'd.
How his touch my bosom chill'd,
Poison'd Hope's balsamic ointment,
And my wound with anguish fill'd.
“Queen of beauty, treacherous Venus,
“Save me from a fate like this;
“Jove himself may judge between us,
“Pain is all thy promised bliss.”
“Save me from a fate like this;
“Jove himself may judge between us,
“Pain is all thy promised bliss.”
“Mortal! ever discontented,
“Your unjust reproaches spare;
“Is your wish so soon repented?
“Well, again I grant your prayer.
“Your unjust reproaches spare;
“Is your wish so soon repented?
“Well, again I grant your prayer.
“Yon decrepit sage will heal you,
“Whose approach appears so slow;
“Let his icy fingers feel you,
“And you must forget your wo.”
“Whose approach appears so slow;
“Let his icy fingers feel you,
“And you must forget your wo.”
Time approach'd his aid to proffer,
But I shrunk from his relief;
Hugg'd my pain—refused his offer,
For I found a joy in grief.
But I shrunk from his relief;
Hugg'd my pain—refused his offer,
For I found a joy in grief.
Lives there one, who loves sincerely,
Willing to forget the flame?
No—'tis dissolution, nearly,
Nature will assert her claim.
Willing to forget the flame?
No—'tis dissolution, nearly,
Nature will assert her claim.
| The poems, odes, songs, and other metrical effusions, of Samuel Woodworth | |