Poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

Happy poet, pleas'd inditing
Sweet Eliza's heav'nly charms;
Happier far the youth delighting
In the nymph's more heav'nly arms!
Freely sing, thrice blest enjoying
All the transports she can give;
Clasp'd in pleasures never cloying,
Live, O favour'd mortal, live.
But presumptuous, never venture
Patsy's grace divine to sing;
Far below thy verse must centre,
Far too weak thy trembling wing.
Oh what racking tumults seize me!
Oh what pangs of jealous love!
Must another poet please thee?
Can my fair his strains approve?
Can my fair forget the pleasures,
Harmless hours of joy we've seen;
Sweeter far than miser's treasures,
More than halycon seas serene?
Yet, alas! hard fate requiring!
Sad oblivion absence draws;
Lost, forgot, I lie expiring,
Patsy false, the much lov'd cause.

158

Pity, charming maid, relenting,
Call to mind thy abject slave,
Smile propitious, smile consenting,
Give those pleasures once you gave!
Know that Venus, now attending,
Soon will leave thy form divine,
All thy outward beauties ending,
Cease to charm, and cease to shine.
Kind the lesson true receiving,
Kind my heart, my soul return;
Big with love thy bosom heaving,
Big with love my breast shall burn.
All our youth, one endless blessing,
Gay transporting joys shall crown;
Solid comforts sure possessing,
When declining life moves down:
Then new bliss—but, where transporting,
Idle fancy! wilt thou lead?
See the nymph, her neck retorting,
Flies, nor deigns to hear thee plead.