Persian love elegies To which is added The nymph of Tauris [by John Wolcot] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
ELEGY V.
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| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | Persian love elegies |  |
12
ELEGY V.
[How few are lur'd by Love's delightful voice!]
HE IS PERSUADED BY HIS FRIENDS TO RELINQUISH HIS PURSUIT OF MIRVA, AND TO ADDRESS SOME OTHER FAIR-ONE. HE REJECTS THEIR ADVICE.
How few are lur'd by Love's delightful voice!
To sordid wealth each youthful flatterer flies;
But Fortune well rewards the venal choice,
With hourly discord and repentant sighs.
To sordid wealth each youthful flatterer flies;
But Fortune well rewards the venal choice,
With hourly discord and repentant sighs.
Spare, O my friends, the killing counsel spare,
Nor bid me to the nymphs of Tauris kneel;
I cannot pour my flatt'ries to the fair,
Nor feign the passion which I cannot feel.
Nor bid me to the nymphs of Tauris kneel;
I cannot pour my flatt'ries to the fair,
Nor feign the passion which I cannot feel.
Fair are the maids of Tauris, fair the maids
Which Spahan boasts, and Casbin's walls display;
Sweet are the nymphs of Salem's peaceful shades,
And sweet the nymphs where Domar winds away.
Which Spahan boasts, and Casbin's walls display;
Sweet are the nymphs of Salem's peaceful shades,
And sweet the nymphs where Domar winds away.
Alas! it is not Beauty's smile divine,
Can swell the constant rapture in my breast,
No! 'tis that secret charm, and only thine,
Can make me happy and secure me blest.
Can swell the constant rapture in my breast,
No! 'tis that secret charm, and only thine,
Can make me happy and secure me blest.
13
Should I, by wealth, by specious wealth betray'd,
To some new nymph my lifeless hand impart,
How could I press with love th'expecting maid,
How bear the murmurs of a breaking heart?
To some new nymph my lifeless hand impart,
How could I press with love th'expecting maid,
How bear the murmurs of a breaking heart?
Let angry Fortune all her gifts resume,
Pleas'd I'll resign the fruits of all my toil:
I cannot be unhappy in my doom,
If on her lover Mirva deign to smile.
Pleas'd I'll resign the fruits of all my toil:
I cannot be unhappy in my doom,
If on her lover Mirva deign to smile.
Me, cannot fortune's gloomy frowns dismay,
Nor sink in dark despair my chearful mind;
Mere clouds that pass the radiant orb of day,
Dim for a while, but leave no trace behind.
Nor sink in dark despair my chearful mind;
Mere clouds that pass the radiant orb of day,
Dim for a while, but leave no trace behind.
Curs'd be the wretch, and doom'd to dwell alone
'Midst the wild roar of Tadmur's howling waste,
Who weds the virgin to his heart unknown,
Tho' with the treasures of Golconda grac'd.
'Midst the wild roar of Tadmur's howling waste,
Who weds the virgin to his heart unknown,
Tho' with the treasures of Golconda grac'd.
Where is the sweet discourse that never tires,
Each fondling act, the soul's delight to prove,
The soft endearment kindling soft desires,
The sigh, the smile, the tear of tender love.
Each fondling act, the soul's delight to prove,
The soft endearment kindling soft desires,
The sigh, the smile, the tear of tender love.
14
Methinks the murmur of reproof I hear.
The wish to part, the deep desponding sigh:
I see th'averted cheek, th'upbraiding tear,
Scorn's killing smile and Hate's disdainful eye.
The wish to part, the deep desponding sigh:
I see th'averted cheek, th'upbraiding tear,
Scorn's killing smile and Hate's disdainful eye.
Ah! could my heart to ev'ry virtue dead,
Desire with other damsels to be blest,
Lose the soft image of my long lov'd maid,
I'd tear the fond inconstant from my breast.
Desire with other damsels to be blest,
Lose the soft image of my long lov'd maid,
I'd tear the fond inconstant from my breast.
Hope lately sung in Ofar's lonely bow'r,
“The pride of Persia, Selim shall be thine.”
No more she charms my solitary hour:
No more I kindle at her voice divine.
“The pride of Persia, Selim shall be thine.”
No more she charms my solitary hour:
No more I kindle at her voice divine.
Sweet Siren! shall I never hear thee more?
Haste with thy smiles and magic looks along;
I know thee faithless, yet thy voice adore:
O haste, and still delight me with thy song.
Haste with thy smiles and magic looks along;
I know thee faithless, yet thy voice adore:
O haste, and still delight me with thy song.
| Persian love elegies | |