Classic Poem

I.

He, whose whole treasure one dear vessel bears,
Thro' seas, on which destructive pirates swarm,
Must be excus'd a thousand fears and cares ,
And bend his soul to ev'ry strong alarm .

II.

Ill do they love , and feel thee, at their heart ,
Who seem unmov'd , while others hope thee theirs ;
My kindling bosom burns, with open smart ,
For my proud soul her unveil'd meaning wears.

III.

Nice, as thy own, and all refin'd, as thine,
My tow'ring passion climbs , with gen'rous flame;
But, shrinking from neglect , in sad decline,
Burns downward, and forgoes a frustrate aim.

IV.

Tender, as infant sighs, in slumb'ring ease,
My soft'ning soul admits, and owns thy sway:
'Tis my life's sweetest care, thy taste to please,
And, in thy sunshine , melt my griefs away.

V.

Woes are too weak, to wound me, thro' thy smiles ,
The pole's fix'd frost were warm, as heav'n, to me;
I tread down malice , thro' her mazy wiles ,
And triumph over all things, charming thee .

VI.

What task so dang'rous , or, what toil so vast ,
Would not thy love inspire me to defy!
Soul'd, with immortal fire, my flame must last;
And I should conquer worlds, beneath thy eye.

VII.

Oh! that my struggling thoughts , which heave, within ,
Cou'd borrow but a voice , and speak my soul ;
Then, would this heart thy grateful passions win
'Till — oh! vast empire! I should claim the whole

VIII.

Yet, as it is, indulge my trembling fear,
And give thy lover's counsel leave to speak:
Fools are all false , nor, long can hold thee dear ,
For soon they find, whate'er they know to seek.

IX.

Boastful, ungenerous, vain , and grossly mean ;
On all thy charms , they only feed their sense;
Thou art, by them , but as meer woman seen,
Blind to thy heav'n, of inward excellence.

X.

Sudden, the wretches' smoaky flames expire ;
Such earthy fuel must, of course, decay ;
But I, while adoration lifts desire ,
Light up a love, that ne'er can burn away .