Miscellanies in Verse and Prose By Mr. Jabez Hughes |
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From the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.
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 | Miscellanies in Verse and Prose |  |
126
From the Spanish of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.
[Good Mother, if you please, you may]
Good Mother, if you please, you may
Set Guards and Spys to watch my Way;
But if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, they may sleep.
Set Guards and Spys to watch my Way;
But if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, they may sleep.
'Tis said of old, by Sayers sage,
Restraint do's Appetite enrage,
And Love, by strict Confinement, turns
More violent, and fiercer burns.
'Tis better then to leave me free,
Than shut me under Lock and Key:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
Restraint do's Appetite enrage,
And Love, by strict Confinement, turns
More violent, and fiercer burns.
'Tis better then to leave me free,
Than shut me under Lock and Key:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
Unless my Will itself restrain,
All threatned Dangers are in vain;
Thro' Death itself it dares the Way,
And finds unthought-of Means to stray:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
All threatned Dangers are in vain;
Thro' Death itself it dares the Way,
And finds unthought-of Means to stray:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
When Love do's once the Breast inspire,
As Flies invited by the Fire,
Thro' careful Guards and wakeful Spies,
It rushes fearless to the Prize:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
As Flies invited by the Fire,
127
It rushes fearless to the Prize:
For if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
In spite of them, my Thoughts will rove
On the dear Object of my Love:
For Lovers Hands are melting Wax,
Their Wishes Fire, their ready Hand
No Diligence or Cunning lacks,
Their Head do's ev'ry Wile command;
Their Eyes have Voice; their Feet, believe me,
Are shod with Silence to deceive ye.
And if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
On the dear Object of my Love:
For Lovers Hands are melting Wax,
Their Wishes Fire, their ready Hand
No Diligence or Cunning lacks,
Their Head do's ev'ry Wile command;
Their Eyes have Voice; their Feet, believe me,
Are shod with Silence to deceive ye.
And if myself I do not keep,
Instead of watching, you may sleep.
| Miscellanies in Verse and Prose | |