75 How oft, when prefs'd to marriage, have I faid, Curfe on all laws but those which love has made! Love, free as air, at fight of human ties, Spreads his light wings, and in a moment flies. Let wealth, let honour, wait the wedded dame, Auguft her deed, and facred be her fame; Before true paffion all thofe views remove, Fame, wealth, and honour! what are you to Love? The jealous God, when we profane his fires, Thofe reftlefs paffions in revenge inspires, And bids them make mistaken mortals groan, Who feck in love for aught but love alone. Should at my feet the world's great mafter fall, Himself, his throne, his world, I'd fcorn 'em all: Not Cæfar's emprefs would I deign to prove; No, make me mistress to the man I love. If there be yet another name more free, 85 More fond than miftrefs, make me that to thee! 90 Ev'n thought meets thought, ere from the lips it part, VER. 75. IMITATION s. Love will not be confin'd by Maisterie : When Maifterie comes the Lord of Love anon Chaucer. P. This fure is blifs (if bliss on earth there be) Alas how chang'd! what sudden horrors rife! 100 105 Canft thou forget that fad, that folemn day, When victims at yon altar's foot we lay? Canft thou forget what tears that moment fell, When, warm in youth, I bade the world farewell? As with cold lips I kifs'd the facred veil, The shrines all trembled and the lamps grew pale: Heav'n fcarce believ'd the Conqueft it survey'd, And Saints with wonder heard the vows I made. Yet then, to thofe dread altars as I drew, Not on the cross my eyes were fix'd but you: Not grace, or zeal, love only was my call, III 115 Come with thy looks, thy words, relieve my woe; 120 Still drink delicious poison from thy eye, Pant on thy lip, and to thy heart be prefs'd; Ah no! inftru&t me other joys to prize, 125 Ah think at least thy flock deferves thy care, Plants of thy hand, and children of thy pray'r. 130 From the falfe world in early youth they fled, By thee to mountains, wilds, and deferts led. You rais'd thefe hallow'd walls; the defert fmil'd, And Paradife was open'd in the Wild. No weeping orphan faw his father's ftores. 135 140 Our fhrines irradiate, or emblaze the floors; NOTES. 145 150 VER. 133. You rais'd thefe hallow'd walls;] He founded the Monaftery, P. 160 But why should I on others pray'rs depend? 165 And breathes a browner horror on the woods. 170 Sad proof how well a lover can obey! And wait till 'tis no fin to mix with thine. 175 Ah wretch! believ'd the spouse of God in vain, Confefs'd within the flave of love and man, Assist me, heav'n! but whence arose that pray'r ? 180 I ought to grieve, but cannot what I ought; I mourn the lover, not lament the fault; I view my crime, but kindle at the view, 185 Repent old pleasures, and follicit new ; Now turn'd to heav'n, I weep my paft offence, How fhall I lose the fin, yet keep the sense, For hearts fo touch'd, so pierc'd, so lost as mine! Ere fuch a foul regains its peaceful state, 190 195 200 How often muft it love, how often hate! Renounce my love, my life, felf and you. 205 |