Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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TAKING AN ELEPHANT. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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TAKING AN ELEPHANT.
Boast not your strength, your liberty is vain,
Your Freedom, power, and independent reign,
Mere empty names, the topics of a day,
Fit for the times, fit subject for the play.
When Denham journey'd to the Bornou land,
He saw the truth, that nothing could withstand
The art of man; no subtilty so great,
No strength so vast, but suffers a defeat.
Your Freedom, power, and independent reign,
Mere empty names, the topics of a day,
Fit for the times, fit subject for the play.
When Denham journey'd to the Bornou land,
He saw the truth, that nothing could withstand
The art of man; no subtilty so great,
No strength so vast, but suffers a defeat.
'Tis almost grief to contemplate the plan
Of cruel victory, obtained by man,
O'er such sagacity. The spearmen run
And part from liberty the fated one;
They drive her on; one spearman leads the way,
Enticing, teasing, seeming to display
The fear of capture; yet, he knows the while
He only leads, intending to beguile;
Whilst in her heart, their spears the others plant,
And kill by subtilty the Elephant.
Of cruel victory, obtained by man,
O'er such sagacity. The spearmen run
And part from liberty the fated one;
They drive her on; one spearman leads the way,
Enticing, teasing, seeming to display
The fear of capture; yet, he knows the while
He only leads, intending to beguile;
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And kill by subtilty the Elephant.
How oft in life, the artful pride of man
Betrays the Innocent, by such a plan:
How oft he leads, pretending to be caught,
Enticing, teasing, yet intending nought,
But basest villany, the worst deceit,
Most fatal conquest, cruelty complete.
Betrays the Innocent, by such a plan:
How oft he leads, pretending to be caught,
Enticing, teasing, yet intending nought,
But basest villany, the worst deceit,
Most fatal conquest, cruelty complete.
But hold! dear Sir, I know thy noble heart,
I know thou wouldst not glory in such part.
If Afric's sons are driven to display
Their pow'rs of subtilty, in such a way,
Do thou, with honor, Love, and noble Mind,
Protect, and trifle not with womankind.
But win with truth, the Innocent and Fair,
And let her love thee; let her not despair.
I know thou wouldst not glory in such part.
If Afric's sons are driven to display
Their pow'rs of subtilty, in such a way,
Do thou, with honor, Love, and noble Mind,
Protect, and trifle not with womankind.
But win with truth, the Innocent and Fair,
And let her love thee; let her not despair.
| Valentine Verses | |