Poems By Edward Quillinan. With a Memoir by William Johnston |
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STANZAS.
IN ALLUSION TO SOME WORLDLY ADVICE IN CLEVER VERSE BY A LADY TO HER YOUNGER FRIEND, THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN:—
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122
STANZAS. IN ALLUSION TO SOME WORLDLY ADVICE IN CLEVER VERSE BY A LADY TO HER YOUNGER FRIEND, THE FOLLOWING WAS WRITTEN:—
[Each verse is as acute in wit]
Each verse is as acute in wit,
Each turn of thought as keenly clever,
As if with not a pen 'twas writ
But arrow from Apollo's quiver.
Each turn of thought as keenly clever,
As if with not a pen 'twas writ
But arrow from Apollo's quiver.
And yet to me those stanzas shine
Like wintry stars whose brilliance freezes,
So shrewdly wise each cautious line
'Twould suit a grey logician's thesis.
Like wintry stars whose brilliance freezes,
So shrewdly wise each cautious line
'Twould suit a grey logician's thesis.
Then, maid, dissolve, (like Egypt's Queen
Her pearl,) though more than pearls they glisten,
Dissolve those icicles serene,
Those gems of hard advice, and listen.
Her pearl,) though more than pearls they glisten,
Dissolve those icicles serene,
Those gems of hard advice, and listen.
123
I'll offer counsel quite as just
Though dull of point and rude in measure;
Beware in youth of cold distrust
That clogs the springs of sinless pleasure.
Though dull of point and rude in measure;
Beware in youth of cold distrust
That clogs the springs of sinless pleasure.
Suspect not all—if thou art fair,—
Of flattery whom thy converse pleases;
But yet their praise as lightly bear
As flowers the touch of passing breezes.
Of flattery whom thy converse pleases;
But yet their praise as lightly bear
As flowers the touch of passing breezes.
If small thy dower—round Mammon's cave
Disdain to watch with lures of beauty;
Nor seek to be a glittering slave
In golden chains of bridal duty.
Disdain to watch with lures of beauty;
Nor seek to be a glittering slave
In golden chains of bridal duty.
The fault of Atalanta shun,
Who lost the race with sordid leisure;
The goal of happiness unwon,
Of what avail is senseless treasure?
Who lost the race with sordid leisure;
The goal of happiness unwon,
Of what avail is senseless treasure?
If wealth be thine, with prudent care
But not idolatrously keep it:
There never yet was spendthrift heir
Whom sorrow did not force to weep it.
But not idolatrously keep it:
There never yet was spendthrift heir
Whom sorrow did not force to weep it.
124
But, being rich, in scale too nice
Weigh not thy gold against affection;
Earth has no ore of half the price
Of love refined by fond reflection.
Weigh not thy gold against affection;
Earth has no ore of half the price
Of love refined by fond reflection.
If thou hast mind as well as wealth,
When strangers gladly round thee hover,
Oh do not then insidious stealth
In each admirer's glance discover.
When strangers gladly round thee hover,
Oh do not then insidious stealth
In each admirer's glance discover.
Think not the ruling lust of pelf
Sets every head in scheming action—
Trust that thy mind's magnetic self
May have some share in the attraction.
Sets every head in scheming action—
Trust that thy mind's magnetic self
May have some share in the attraction.
O maiden, be reserve thy stay;
'Tis youthful Hope's unfailing anchor:
But throw suspicion far away;
'Tis Feeling's bane, and Beauty's canker.
'Tis youthful Hope's unfailing anchor:
But throw suspicion far away;
'Tis Feeling's bane, and Beauty's canker.
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