 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
100
The MAY-SPRIG.
A Song.
A Sprig with earliest blossoms gay,
I gather'd from the fragrant May,
To deck fair Cloe's sweeter breast,
In lillies rob'd, where Cupids nest.
I gather'd from the fragrant May,
To deck fair Cloe's sweeter breast,
In lillies rob'd, where Cupids nest.
Eager a while the gift she ey'd,
Then cast it on the ground and sigh'd;
The crystal tears adown her cheek
Where patience smil'd, her feelings speak.
Then cast it on the ground and sigh'd;
The crystal tears adown her cheek
Where patience smil'd, her feelings speak.
“Oh, Damon, Damon,” cry'd the Fair,
“Behold your sex's emblem there:
“Tho' flatt'ring to the sense it shows,—
“Beneath—the Thorn unfriendly grows.
“Behold your sex's emblem there:
“Tho' flatt'ring to the sense it shows,—
“Beneath—the Thorn unfriendly grows.
“Like this fair flow'r, May's boasted sweet,
“Love does the witless Virgin cheat;
“We lodge the traitor at our heart,
“But feel too soon the rankling smart.”
“Love does the witless Virgin cheat;
“We lodge the traitor at our heart,
“But feel too soon the rankling smart.”
She said—Remembrance, all unkind,
Gave treach'rous Thyrsis to her mind;
My heart now throbb'd with friendly pain,
Nor cou'd the social tear refrain.
Gave treach'rous Thyrsis to her mind;
My heart now throbb'd with friendly pain,
Nor cou'd the social tear refrain.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |