Persian love elegies To which is added The nymph of Tauris [by John Wolcot] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
ELEGY VII.
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| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | Persian love elegies |  |
17
ELEGY VII.
[To false delights the youth of Spahan fly]
SELIM TO THE YOUTH OF SPAHAN. HE ADVISES THEM TO DROP THEIR UNLAWFUL CONNECTIONS WITH THE DAMSELS OF GEORGIA, A PROVINCE REMARKABLE FOR BEAUTIFUL WOMEN. HE FANCIES HIMSELF IN POSSESSION OF MIRVA.
To false delights the youth of Spahan fly,
Who court for happiness the wanton's arms;
That darts on all the fond inflaming eye,
And choiceless yields to all, for gold, her charms.
Who court for happiness the wanton's arms;
That darts on all the fond inflaming eye,
And choiceless yields to all, for gold, her charms.
When on the syren's panting breast, you sigh,
And print with transport wild the burning kiss;
Doth friendship's breath inspire th'unhallow'd joy,
Or love's sweet spirit swell the surge of bliss?
And print with transport wild the burning kiss;
Doth friendship's breath inspire th'unhallow'd joy,
Or love's sweet spirit swell the surge of bliss?
When droops enjoyment, what is then the fair?
The valley's short liv'd flow'r that blooms and fades,
A sun that pours a momentary glare,
Whose radiant orb a simple vapour shades.
The valley's short liv'd flow'r that blooms and fades,
A sun that pours a momentary glare,
Whose radiant orb a simple vapour shades.
18
'Tho' Georgia's nymphs a purer blush display
Than kindles on the cheek of virgin morn;
Their eyes, tho' rivals to the di'mond's ray;
Tho' Tarkies' snows their polish'd necks adorn;
Than kindles on the cheek of virgin morn;
Their eyes, tho' rivals to the di'mond's ray;
Tho' Tarkies' snows their polish'd necks adorn;
Yet, yet their charms the maids of Spahan boast,
Truth's sacred voice their cultur'd minds revere:
Tho' in their eyes the di'mond's beam be lost,
Lo! modesty, a nobler gem is there!
Truth's sacred voice their cultur'd minds revere:
Tho' in their eyes the di'mond's beam be lost,
Lo! modesty, a nobler gem is there!
Ye swains, to Spahan's gentle daughters turn:
To mental beauty let your hearts be led:
Bid, by your flight, the venal wanton mourn,
And press in tears her solitary bed.
To mental beauty let your hearts be led:
Bid, by your flight, the venal wanton mourn,
And press in tears her solitary bed.
When round your neck she glues her fondling arms,
And, bent to please, exhausts each winning art,
With rapture melts you 'midst her glowing charms;
She leads your passions captive, not the heart.
And, bent to please, exhausts each winning art,
With rapture melts you 'midst her glowing charms;
She leads your passions captive, not the heart.
The midnight riot whilst you madly hold,
Lo! of a tender partner I'm possest:
What bliss her fragrant beauties to enfold,
And soothe my slumbers on her faithful breast!
Lo! of a tender partner I'm possest:
What bliss her fragrant beauties to enfold,
And soothe my slumbers on her faithful breast!
19
Time from her bosom Tarkies' snows may steal,
His wrinkled hand her matchless bloom invade:
Still to my faded charmer will I kneel,
And love her most when ev'ry grace is dead.
His wrinkled hand her matchless bloom invade:
Still to my faded charmer will I kneel,
And love her most when ev'ry grace is dead.
Who spurns the faded beauty from his breast,
Hard is his heart, in ev'ry virtue poor:
Hard is his heart to wound the fair distress'd.
Who only weeps that she can charm no more.
Hard is his heart, in ev'ry virtue poor:
Hard is his heart to wound the fair distress'd.
Who only weeps that she can charm no more.
Cruel, to bid her breast with anguish heave,
Because her cheek no more to rapture warms:
Base, to forget the joys her beauty gave,
And oh! forget, it faded in his arms.
Because her cheek no more to rapture warms:
Base, to forget the joys her beauty gave,
And oh! forget, it faded in his arms.
How curs'd the stranger to the nuptial tie,
When Death's pale horrors gloom around his head!
Without a friend to close his hopeless eye,
Drop the due tear, and mourn his parting shade.
When Death's pale horrors gloom around his head!
Without a friend to close his hopeless eye,
Drop the due tear, and mourn his parting shade.
Whene'er I droop beneath the wound of death,
A tender wife the hour of dread will chear;
Who, whilst she sooths with hope my short'ning breath,
Shrinks from my gaze to wipe the hopeless tear.
A tender wife the hour of dread will chear;
Who, whilst she sooths with hope my short'ning breath,
Shrinks from my gaze to wipe the hopeless tear.
20
How hard to brighten the wan cheek of Care,
And steal from deep desponding thought the sigh:
To drown in mirth the murmurs of Despair,
And cloath with chearful smiles her haggard eye.
And steal from deep desponding thought the sigh:
To drown in mirth the murmurs of Despair,
And cloath with chearful smiles her haggard eye.
Yet will she strive to gild the deathful gloom,
And charm the horrors of my fate away;
Bid her pale cheek the faint-forc'd smile assume:
Ah! not the smile that bless'd my healthful day.
And charm the horrors of my fate away;
Bid her pale cheek the faint-forc'd smile assume:
Ah! not the smile that bless'd my healthful day.
Her pious sorrow shall my death proclaim;
What woes, alas! her tender heart will rend!
Her flowing tears shall be her husband's fame,
And to his mem'ry make the world a friend.
What woes, alas! her tender heart will rend!
Her flowing tears shall be her husband's fame,
And to his mem'ry make the world a friend.
| Persian love elegies | |