Valentine Verses or, Lines of Truth, Love, and Virtue. By the Reverend Richard Cobbold |
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FATAL JEALOUSY. |
 | Valentine Verses |  |
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FATAL JEALOUSY.
Tho' Ovid wrote in rich harmonious strain,
Replete with passion, full of joy and pain,
And made of men, his deities like man,
I shall not follow his deceptive plan,
But give to mortals what is mortal's due,
The praise of virtue, when their love is true.
Truth was howe'er obscured by idols vain,
Full often ground-work of the Poet's pen.
Replete with passion, full of joy and pain,
And made of men, his deities like man,
I shall not follow his deceptive plan,
But give to mortals what is mortal's due,
The praise of virtue, when their love is true.
Truth was howe'er obscured by idols vain,
Full often ground-work of the Poet's pen.
This might be fact, for jealousy in life,
The youth may feel, the maiden, or the wife;
And lynx-eyed fear may prompt suspicion on,
To deed of folly, as by Procris done;
Still love, the harbinger of heart and soul,
Should keep us all in honor and controul.
The youth may feel, the maiden, or the wife;
And lynx-eyed fear may prompt suspicion on,
To deed of folly, as by Procris done;
Still love, the harbinger of heart and soul,
Should keep us all in honor and controul.
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That man, who cruelly provokes the spleen
Of woman's nature, he deserves no screen
To hide his treachery. May poignant dart,
Strike deep conviction to the faithless heart!
What can he hope, whose savage eye can see,
A lovely woman, stung by jealousy;
Provoked, with cause, to call her Lord unjust,
His plighted vows, his honor to mistrust?
Does eagle tear from bleeding lamb the heart?
Does life-blood from the wounded bird depart?
Does shark rapacious seize the swimming prey?
More cruel man, who trifles in this way.
Of woman's nature, he deserves no screen
To hide his treachery. May poignant dart,
Strike deep conviction to the faithless heart!
What can he hope, whose savage eye can see,
A lovely woman, stung by jealousy;
Provoked, with cause, to call her Lord unjust,
His plighted vows, his honor to mistrust?
Does eagle tear from bleeding lamb the heart?
Does life-blood from the wounded bird depart?
Does shark rapacious seize the swimming prey?
More cruel man, who trifles in this way.
Beware of jealousy, ye gentle fair,
Of Procris' fate, young maidens, O beware!
She thought her Lord indulged in secret shade,
The interchange of love with favor'd maid.
A giddy swain, who heard him call on air
To soothe fatigue, convey'd it to the fair,
With certain declaration, that he heard
The gentle accents of the lover's word.
Prompted by fear, by doubt, by love, by life,
The young, the doating, yet suspicious wife,
Hasten'd away, and hid herself, to see
The pictur'd object of her jealousy.
Of Procris' fate, young maidens, O beware!
She thought her Lord indulged in secret shade,
The interchange of love with favor'd maid.
A giddy swain, who heard him call on air
To soothe fatigue, convey'd it to the fair,
With certain declaration, that he heard
The gentle accents of the lover's word.
Prompted by fear, by doubt, by love, by life,
The young, the doating, yet suspicious wife,
Hasten'd away, and hid herself, to see
The pictur'd object of her jealousy.
183
Alone, young Cephalis was passing by,
And heard the rustling of the branches nigh,
Quick flew the dart! which never miss'd its aim;
Alas, the dearest of the dear, his game.
The feeble cry of Procris told the truth,
And left distraction to dismay the youth.
And heard the rustling of the branches nigh,
Quick flew the dart! which never miss'd its aim;
Alas, the dearest of the dear, his game.
The feeble cry of Procris told the truth,
And left distraction to dismay the youth.
Beware, ye maidens! if the soul of man,
Be not of honor, woman, never can
By means of jealousy, prevent his will;
Suspicion only must increase the ill,—
But trust in truth. May man of honor 'bide
In Woman's love, and virtue be his bride.
Be not of honor, woman, never can
By means of jealousy, prevent his will;
Suspicion only must increase the ill,—
But trust in truth. May man of honor 'bide
In Woman's love, and virtue be his bride.
| Valentine Verses | |