 | Poems on several occasions |  |
471
A LETTER TO MR. KILNER ON HIS MARRIAGE.
Dear Jemmy, (if with patience you can bear
Any but one alone to call you “dear,”)
Now fast as life the knot of love is tied,
The virgin-widow is once more a bride;
Permit a friend his social joy to show,
One who is sped like you,—or would be so.
Any but one alone to call you “dear,”)
Now fast as life the knot of love is tied,
The virgin-widow is once more a bride;
Permit a friend his social joy to show,
One who is sped like you,—or would be so.
Long may you both promote each other's bliss,
Receiving and returning happiness;
Secure from great, dispense with little, flaws,
Still keeping anger for a weightier cause;
Both worthy of belief and both believed,
And undeceiving each and undeceived;
From every art and all dissembling free,
And thirst of domineering sovereignty!
Nor let your rest on friends' opinion stand;
But scorn a happiness at second-hand;
Who must, whate'er to others may appear,
Be blest in what you find, not what you hear;
While either part the other's good intends,
Forgetting man and woman in the friends.
Receiving and returning happiness;
Secure from great, dispense with little, flaws,
Still keeping anger for a weightier cause;
Both worthy of belief and both believed,
And undeceiving each and undeceived;
From every art and all dissembling free,
And thirst of domineering sovereignty!
Nor let your rest on friends' opinion stand;
But scorn a happiness at second-hand;
Who must, whate'er to others may appear,
Be blest in what you find, not what you hear;
While either part the other's good intends,
Forgetting man and woman in the friends.
In all her actions may religion shine,
And meek obedience, fix'd on right divine!
Yet let her add another motive too,
A just endearing cause,—the love of you;
That virtues, which before to all were shown,
Her love may now direct to you alone.
So rays, diffused, a fainter warmth inspire,
Which, when contracted to a point, are fire.
And meek obedience, fix'd on right divine!
Yet let her add another motive too,
A just endearing cause,—the love of you;
That virtues, which before to all were shown,
Her love may now direct to you alone.
472
Which, when contracted to a point, are fire.
Long may you live and love, a happy pair!
She what you wish, and you be what you are.
Long may you both by sweet experience prove,
The best, the surest ground of love is love!
Say, is it not? If aught we disagree,
Think, I'm as near to you, as you to me:
And if perhaps to vengeance you're inclined,
Wreak it,—whene'er you like occasion find;
I should be glad to feel it,—if in kind.
She what you wish, and you be what you are.
Long may you both by sweet experience prove,
The best, the surest ground of love is love!
Say, is it not? If aught we disagree,
Think, I'm as near to you, as you to me:
And if perhaps to vengeance you're inclined,
Wreak it,—whene'er you like occasion find;
I should be glad to feel it,—if in kind.
| Poems on several occasions | |