London lyrics by Frederick Locker Lampson: With introduction and notes by Austin Dobson |
 |
TO MY MISTRESS |
 | London lyrics |  |
70
TO MY MISTRESS
His musings were trite, and their burthen, forsooth,
The wisdom of age and the folly of youth.
The wisdom of age and the folly of youth.
Marquise
, I see the flying year,
And feel how Time is wasting here:
Ay more, he soon his worst will do,
And garner all your roses too.
And feel how Time is wasting here:
Ay more, he soon his worst will do,
And garner all your roses too.
It pleases Time to fold his wings
Around our best and fairest things;
He'll mar your blooming cheek, as now
He stamps his mark upon my brow.
Around our best and fairest things;
He'll mar your blooming cheek, as now
He stamps his mark upon my brow.
The same mute planets rise and shine
To rule your days and nights as mine:
Once I was young and gay, and see! . . .
What I am now you soon will be.
To rule your days and nights as mine:
Once I was young and gay, and see! . . .
What I am now you soon will be.
And yet I vaunt a certain charm
That shields me from your worst alarm,
And bids me gaze, with front sublime,
On all these ravages of Time.
That shields me from your worst alarm,
And bids me gaze, with front sublime,
On all these ravages of Time.
71
You boast a gift that blooms and dies,
I boast a gift that change defies:
For mine will still be mine, and last
When all your pride of beauty's past.
I boast a gift that change defies:
For mine will still be mine, and last
When all your pride of beauty's past.
My gift will long embalm the lures
Of eyes—ah, sweet to me as yours:
For ages hence the great and good
Will judge you as I choose they should.
Of eyes—ah, sweet to me as yours:
For ages hence the great and good
Will judge you as I choose they should.
In days to come the peer or clown,
With whom I still shall win renown,
Will only know that you were fair
Because I chanced to say you were.
With whom I still shall win renown,
Will only know that you were fair
Because I chanced to say you were.
Proud Lady! Scornful beauty mocks
At aged heads and silver locks;
But think awhile before you fly
Or spurn a Poet such as I.
At aged heads and silver locks;
But think awhile before you fly
Or spurn a Poet such as I.
Kenwood, July 21, 1864.
| London lyrics | |