Poems on Several Occasions With Imitations from Horace, Ovid, Martial, Theocritus, Bachylides, Anacreon, &c. To which is prefix'd A Discourse on Criticism, and the Liberty of Writing. In a letter to a Friend. By Samuel Cobb ... The Third Edition. To which is added, Poems on the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, the Electoral Prince of Hannover, with other Poems. Never before Printed |
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THE Desperate Lover. |
 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
96
THE Desperate Lover.
A youth, who often felt Love's mighty Pain,
Lov'd a fair Nymph, but was not lov'd again.
Beauteous her Face, her Features beauteous were,
But she, alas, was more unkind than fair.
For, as his Love grew strong, she coyer grew,
Nor was she only coy, but cruel too.
The winged Boy oft shot his fatal Dart,
But she, unpractis'd, never felt the Smart;
Unwounded was her Breast, untouch'd her Heart.
Whether blind Cupid was a God or no,
How sharp his Arrows, and how strong his Bow,
She either knew not, or she would not know.
Lov'd a fair Nymph, but was not lov'd again.
Beauteous her Face, her Features beauteous were,
But she, alas, was more unkind than fair.
For, as his Love grew strong, she coyer grew,
Nor was she only coy, but cruel too.
The winged Boy oft shot his fatal Dart,
But she, unpractis'd, never felt the Smart;
Unwounded was her Breast, untouch'd her Heart.
97
How sharp his Arrows, and how strong his Bow,
She either knew not, or she would not know.
Rough was her Soul, and savage her Converse,
Her Mien was haughty, and her Language fierce.
Her Cheeks and Lips might shame the opening Rose;
But these no Hopes afford, no Comfort those.
Those stubborn Lips refusing to impart
A Kiss, which softens Love, and warms the Heart:
Those Eyes, which first inflam'd the Am'rous Boy,
Those Eyes, which shone like Light, like Fire destroy.
As a wild Beast, design'd the Hunter's Prey,
Rouls back his angry Eyes, and scours away.
Such was the Nymph! so shunn'd his youthful Flame!
So frown'd! which ill her beauteous Face became.
And if by chance she touch'd him with a Look,
The sparkling Beams her wrathful Eyes forsook.
Straight, by Antipathy, her Colour fled,
Her Cheeks grew pale, and lost their lovely Red.
Her Mien was haughty, and her Language fierce.
Her Cheeks and Lips might shame the opening Rose;
But these no Hopes afford, no Comfort those.
Those stubborn Lips refusing to impart
A Kiss, which softens Love, and warms the Heart:
Those Eyes, which first inflam'd the Am'rous Boy,
Those Eyes, which shone like Light, like Fire destroy.
As a wild Beast, design'd the Hunter's Prey,
Rouls back his angry Eyes, and scours away.
98
So frown'd! which ill her beauteous Face became.
And if by chance she touch'd him with a Look,
The sparkling Beams her wrathful Eyes forsook.
Straight, by Antipathy, her Colour fled,
Her Cheeks grew pale, and lost their lovely Red.
Yet, barb'rous as she was, he thought her Fair,
As if her very Anger charming were.
Nor could that Fierceness, which had chang'd her Face,
Dislodge his Passion from its ancient Place.
At last, his Grief unable to contain,
And show'ring from his Eyes a briny Rain,
When with despairing Looks he had survey'd
The hated House, where the stern She was laid,
He kist the Threshold, which her Feet had prest,
And thus th' inexorable Fair addrest.
As if her very Anger charming were.
Nor could that Fierceness, which had chang'd her Face,
Dislodge his Passion from its ancient Place.
At last, his Grief unable to contain,
And show'ring from his Eyes a briny Rain,
When with despairing Looks he had survey'd
The hated House, where the stern She was laid,
99
And thus th' inexorable Fair addrest.
Ah cruel Nymph! of Women Thou the worst!
Thee surely Mountains bred, Thee Tygers nurst.
For Rocks and Tygers soft and human be,
If Rocks and Tygers are compar'd with Thee.
For generous Love Thou mak'st no kind Return,
Unworthy of the Flames with which I burn!
But now I come to cure my fond Disease;
This Steel thy flinty Breast will surely please.
Think not I mean thy Choler to create,
Or breed new Matter for thy Scorn or Hate.
This Gift th' unpleasing Object shall remove;
Then you will smile, you will my Pangs approve,
'Tis such a Present, such a Sight you Love.
Thee surely Mountains bred, Thee Tygers nurst.
For Rocks and Tygers soft and human be,
If Rocks and Tygers are compar'd with Thee.
For generous Love Thou mak'st no kind Return,
Unworthy of the Flames with which I burn!
But now I come to cure my fond Disease;
This Steel thy flinty Breast will surely please.
Think not I mean thy Choler to create,
Or breed new Matter for thy Scorn or Hate.
This Gift th' unpleasing Object shall remove;
Then you will smile, you will my Pangs approve,
'Tis such a Present, such a Sight you Love.
Where Thou hast doom'd me, I prepare to go,
And find a Lover's Remedy below.
There I shall Draughts of cold Oblivion take;
Yet should I drink the whole Lethœan Lake,
Not all its Rivers could remove Desire,
Or slake my Thirst of Love, or cool my Fire.
And find a Lover's Remedy below.
100
Yet should I drink the whole Lethœan Lake,
Not all its Rivers could remove Desire,
Or slake my Thirst of Love, or cool my Fire.
But now no more I will my Passion tell,
Here, smiling, take my long, my last Farewel.
Relentless Nymph! I know thy future Doom:
Roses are sweet, and lovely in the Bloom;
Yet soon their Odour and their Beauty's past,
Spoil'd by rude Hands, or by some Northern Blast.
A short-liv'd Youth the Violet enjoys,
This Month that blossoms, which the next destroys.
Fair Lillies wither, and the Silver Snows,
By the warm Sun dissolv'd, their Whiteness lose.
Such will thy Beauty be, which charms the Plain!
So short thy Cruelty! a Tyrant's Reign.
Here, smiling, take my long, my last Farewel.
Relentless Nymph! I know thy future Doom:
Roses are sweet, and lovely in the Bloom;
Yet soon their Odour and their Beauty's past,
Spoil'd by rude Hands, or by some Northern Blast.
A short-liv'd Youth the Violet enjoys,
This Month that blossoms, which the next destroys.
Fair Lillies wither, and the Silver Snows,
By the warm Sun dissolv'd, their Whiteness lose.
Such will thy Beauty be, which charms the Plain!
So short thy Cruelty! a Tyrant's Reign.
101
The Time will come, when Thou shalt weep to see
Thy Self forsaken, and refus'd, like Me.
Avenging Love will take my injur'd Part,
For all thy Triumphs o'er my slighted Heart.
Thy Self forsaken, and refus'd, like Me.
Avenging Love will take my injur'd Part,
For all thy Triumphs o'er my slighted Heart.
Yet since the living Lover pleads in vain,
Allow one Favour to the dying Swain.
When smear'd with Blood you see my Body ly,
Stand still and gaze, nor pass regardless by.
Then take and wrap me in thy silken Vest,
Ah! let the Dead obtain this small Request!
Human at least to my last Shade appear,
And sacrifice one Sigh, one Funeral Tear.
Fear me no more, for should thy Arms embrace
My bloodless Corps, and Tears bedew my Face,
Should'st thou relent, thy Tears were shed in vain
To fetch the Dead to hated Life again.
Thy softest Kisses would be fruitless all,
Which might have sav'd whom they can ne'er recall.
Allow one Favour to the dying Swain.
When smear'd with Blood you see my Body ly,
Stand still and gaze, nor pass regardless by.
Then take and wrap me in thy silken Vest,
Ah! let the Dead obtain this small Request!
Human at least to my last Shade appear,
And sacrifice one Sigh, one Funeral Tear.
Fear me no more, for should thy Arms embrace
My bloodless Corps, and Tears bedew my Face,
Should'st thou relent, thy Tears were shed in vain
To fetch the Dead to hated Life again.
102
Which might have sav'd whom they can ne'er recall.
Make me a hollow Tomb, a Tomb which may
Hide my hard Love, and there my Body lay.
Then thrice (departing) cry, My Friend is dead;
Add, if you please, My lov'd Companion's fled.
Then on the Marble, which my Bones shall keep,
Inscribe this Verse, and make the Marble weep.
Hide my hard Love, and there my Body lay.
Then thrice (departing) cry, My Friend is dead;
Add, if you please, My lov'd Companion's fled.
Then on the Marble, which my Bones shall keep,
Inscribe this Verse, and make the Marble weep.
Ye Passengers, behold a Lover slain,
By Unkind Hate, but more Unkind Disdain.
He lov'd a Nymph, the Fates did so decree,
The Fates were cruel, but more cruel She.
By Unkind Hate, but more Unkind Disdain.
He lov'd a Nymph, the Fates did so decree,
The Fates were cruel, but more cruel She.
103
He said: and with the Dagger, which he bore,
He pierc'd his Heart; out flow'd the purple Gore.
The Nymph beheld him weltring on the Ground,
And carelesly survey'd the gaping Wound.
Yet still her Breast no melting Pity knew,
No streaming Tears her stubborn Eyes bedew.
With no Concern on the slain Corps she stood,
And dipt her Virgin Garments in his Blood.
He pierc'd his Heart; out flow'd the purple Gore.
The Nymph beheld him weltring on the Ground,
And carelesly survey'd the gaping Wound.
Yet still her Breast no melting Pity knew,
No streaming Tears her stubborn Eyes bedew.
With no Concern on the slain Corps she stood,
And dipt her Virgin Garments in his Blood.
No Mourning in her Face or Dress she shows,
But to the Ring, the Park, and Playhouse goes.
With Courtly Nymphs the distant Bath frequents:
The God she injur'd views, nor yet relents.
For o'er the Water you might Cupid see,
In Marble carv'd, but not so hard as She.
Whether by Chance or Choice, with mighty Fall,
Love's Statue tumbles from the Pedestal,
Crushing th' inhuman Nymph's devoted Head,
Whose Breath with these last dying Accents fled.
But to the Ring, the Park, and Playhouse goes.
With Courtly Nymphs the distant Bath frequents:
The God she injur'd views, nor yet relents.
For o'er the Water you might Cupid see,
In Marble carv'd, but not so hard as She.
Whether by Chance or Choice, with mighty Fall,
Love's Statue tumbles from the Pedestal,
104
Whose Breath with these last dying Accents fled.
Farewel, ye Lovers; for the Nymph is slain,
Whom a kind Shepherd lov'd, but lov'd in vain.
Ye scornful Virgins, be forewarn'd by Me,
How Your Disdain offends the God; for He
Has Arms to punish, and has Eyes to see.
Whom a kind Shepherd lov'd, but lov'd in vain.
Ye scornful Virgins, be forewarn'd by Me,
How Your Disdain offends the God; for He
Has Arms to punish, and has Eyes to see.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |