 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
64
The WEDDED DOVES.
Venus observing that her Doves,
Diff'rent from all her changeful train,
Were over constant in their loves,
As born to wear the marriage chain;
Diff'rent from all her changeful train,
Were over constant in their loves,
As born to wear the marriage chain;
For the joke's sake, one pair, she cry'd,
One wedded pair, shall grace my corps;
Hymen appear'd, the Doves were ty'd,
And the God's flow'ry chain they wore.
One wedded pair, shall grace my corps;
Hymen appear'd, the Doves were ty'd,
And the God's flow'ry chain they wore.
To see themselves so fine array'd,
With double joy they bill and coo;
But soon, alas, the roses fade,
And iron links now start to view.
With double joy they bill and coo;
But soon, alas, the roses fade,
And iron links now start to view.
Echo no more in soothing moan
Throughout the grove their loves confest,
But floods of gall, till now unknown,
Swell and embitter either breast.
Throughout the grove their loves confest,
But floods of gall, till now unknown,
Swell and embitter either breast.
When yok'd to draw the Goddess' carr,
They pull and strain a diff'rent way;
Venus is forc'd, so much they jarr,
Her visits all on foot to pay.
They pull and strain a diff'rent way;
Venus is forc'd, so much they jarr,
Her visits all on foot to pay.
What can she do? Another pair
Of feather'd hobbies now are chose:—
What magic, Heav'n! does Hymen bear,
To make e'en loving Turtles foes!
Of feather'd hobbies now are chose:—
What magic, Heav'n! does Hymen bear,
To make e'en loving Turtles foes!
65
In pity to their dismal state,
Thus to the Flutterers Venus cries,
“To qualify the pangs of hate,
“An English Peer and Peeress rise.
Thus to the Flutterers Venus cries,
“To qualify the pangs of hate,
“An English Peer and Peeress rise.
“In that eccentric situation,
“Freedom unbounded is possest;
“Hymen with them's a separation,
“A very slip-knot at the best.”—
“Freedom unbounded is possest;
“Hymen with them's a separation,
“A very slip-knot at the best.”—
She said:—And straight the change appear'd;
Now Hymen's pow'r they both defy;
Fashion's the Deity rever'd,
And Fashion lifts his Horns on high.
Now Hymen's pow'r they both defy;
Fashion's the Deity rever'd,
And Fashion lifts his Horns on high.
Unblushing—lo—they rove at ease,
The marriage vows no longer bind;
They kiss and wanton where they please,
Licentious as—“the bawdy wind.”—
The marriage vows no longer bind;
They kiss and wanton where they please,
Licentious as—“the bawdy wind.”—
But spite of Fashion's rainbow pow'rs,
Illusive all their pleasures prove:—
How different from those happy hours,
Unhymen'd when they wont to rove!
Illusive all their pleasures prove:—
How different from those happy hours,
Unhymen'd when they wont to rove!
| Poems on Several Occasions | |