Persian love elegies To which is added The nymph of Tauris [by John Wolcot] |
 |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
ELEGY X.
|
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | Persian love elegies |  |
27
ELEGY X.
[Faint as the lustre of a lonely star]
DISAPPOINTED AT NOT MEETING HER, HE ACCUSES HER OF INCONSTANCY.
Faint as the lustre of a lonely star,
That sheds through night's abyss his distant fire;
Hope feebly glimmer'd on my heart's despair:
Behold at length her paly lamp expire!
That sheds through night's abyss his distant fire;
Hope feebly glimmer'd on my heart's despair:
Behold at length her paly lamp expire!
Know, lovely virgin, thy deluding art
Hath lodg'd a thousand scorpions in my breast:
O say what happier rival wins thy heart,
Is Selim there no more a welcome guest?
Hath lodg'd a thousand scorpions in my breast:
O say what happier rival wins thy heart,
Is Selim there no more a welcome guest?
To a false fair-one have I told my tale,
For a false fair-one fondly sigh'd so long!
Why dear deceiver did thy charms prevail?
Thy charms the subject of my ev'ry song.
For a false fair-one fondly sigh'd so long!
Why dear deceiver did thy charms prevail?
Thy charms the subject of my ev'ry song.
Ye swains who heard so oft my raptur'd lays,
False is the damsel that your wonder drew:
Ye nymphs who listen'd to the lavish'd praise,
My soul's soft idol proves at length untrue.
False is the damsel that your wonder drew:
Ye nymphs who listen'd to the lavish'd praise,
My soul's soft idol proves at length untrue.
28
Your tears for me, ye gentle virgins, spare,
Let not my fate your sighs, ye shepherds, draw:
For faithless Beauty drop the pitying tear,
And grieve so fair a diamond holds a flaw.
Let not my fate your sighs, ye shepherds, draw:
For faithless Beauty drop the pitying tear,
And grieve so fair a diamond holds a flaw.
Can Falshood's stain that dove-like heart defile?
Ah! see the tear by blushing Virtue shed!
Lurks Perfidy beneath that heav'nly smile?
See Love with horror mark the guilty maid!
Ah! see the tear by blushing Virtue shed!
Lurks Perfidy beneath that heav'nly smile?
See Love with horror mark the guilty maid!
Yet, yet the tyrant of my breast she reigns,
Restless for her it heaves with constant sighs,
My wounded heart of cruelty complains,
Yet softly pleads her pardon whilst it dies.
Restless for her it heaves with constant sighs,
My wounded heart of cruelty complains,
Yet softly pleads her pardon whilst it dies.
The sacred vow can beauteous Mirva break!
Lo! scarcely vanish'd is the blush divine,
That modest deepen'd on the virgin's cheek,
When yielding pleas'd, she gave her hand to mine.
Lo! scarcely vanish'd is the blush divine,
That modest deepen'd on the virgin's cheek,
When yielding pleas'd, she gave her hand to mine.
Scarce on that hand is cold my kiss sincere:
Scarce from that hand my raptur'd lips I part:
Ev'n now the echo of my joys I hear,
And feel th'extatic tremble of my heart.
Scarce from that hand my raptur'd lips I part:
Ev'n now the echo of my joys I hear,
And feel th'extatic tremble of my heart.
29
Each Persian youth will treat her now with scorn,
Each Persian maid will blush her name to hear:
Those walls which boasted her of Spahan born,
Will shut their gates for ever on the fair.
Each Persian maid will blush her name to hear:
Those walls which boasted her of Spahan born,
Will shut their gates for ever on the fair.
Yet tho' she slights the swain who for her dies,
For her my friendly wish shall ever flow;
May injur'd Love forget my pitied sighs,
And make her blisses equal to my woe.
For her my friendly wish shall ever flow;
May injur'd Love forget my pitied sighs,
And make her blisses equal to my woe.
| Persian love elegies | |