Classic Poem

A Fragment.

I Sought repose from love's perplexing cares,
His groundless hopes, and still more groundless fears;
The luscious nights with Z ION'S monarch past,
In spite of ev'ry art grew stale at last,
I long'd in solitude to doze the day,
Nor languishingly dull, nor vainly gay;
Now in grave contemplation strive to scan
That charming, teazing, froward creature, man;
And now with dancing damsels plant a net
Before the unsuspecting monarch's feet;
For still (whate'er I thought) my tender breast
In silent sighs too warm a love exprest;
Still too much fervour wanton'd in my blood,
To act with rigour the affected prude;
But bent my fond indulgent spouse to vex,
(For, come what will, we wives must have our freaks),
To S HARON'S pleasant palace I retir'd,
Of thousands admirable, most admir'd;
T YRE'S daedal sons, with learned wonder gaze,
And almost deify the dome they raise;
The humble H IRAM scarce will own his plan,
Content to be a mason and a man:
On ev'ry side extends a verdant mead,
With all the charms of various nature spread:
Here, strays a limpid stream, whose mazy course,
Is mark'd with willows, fragrant shrubs, and flow'rs;
And there, in distant prospect seen to rise,
Groves, castles, mountains, mingling with the skies;
The nice proportion, and the chaste design,
May charm an artist's eye, but charm'd not mine;
'Twas O PHIR'S jewels, and Arabia's sweets,
That lifted S HARON o'er a thousand seats;
Whatever pamper'd females hold most rare,
Of all th' advent'rous merchant brings from far,
A gallant monarch joy'd to place it there.
On the embroider'd couch myself I flung,
Inviting sleep, surrounding damsels sung;
Be rural peace and innocence the theme,
Lest love (said I) usurp my coming dream. "
Obedient to my voice, at once they raise
In choir consenting, their harmonious lays:
Now white-rob'd Candour, and his blythesome peers,
O'er Temperance's cup forget their years;
Forget each wayward frowning fortune past,
And thank just Heav'n, that will reward at last.
Now healthy Labour, and his russet wife,
Snatch the coarse meal, nor wish a happier life,
Bless the kind hand that, with assiduous care,
Still crowns their table with delicious fare;
Bow low, in gratitude for what they have,
To have no less, the only boon they crave.
While now beneath a spreading fig-tree's shade
The shepherd swain is indolently laid;
Sportive around his little lambkins play,
And all heav'n's music warbles from the spray:
In distant perspective the wolf appears,
Who drinks the pleasing found, and softens as he hears,
Sleep, that unask'd anoints the peasant's eye,
And spreads his wings where labour's children lye;
At bashful distance stands, nor dares approach
The lusty lady on her lazy couch;
In vain invok'd! no sleep, no slumber came,
To pour their balsam on my weary'd frame;
Each various posture, each device I try'd,
But in each posture — as repose deny'd:
Mad at my fate, now here, now there, I tost,
Curs'd the whole world, but curs'd myself the most;
Pray'd sudden ruin on our race in rage,
Nor spar'd my lovely S OLOMON the sage.
" The sky, however clouded, soon will clear, "
Said father D AVID , that illustrious seer;
And, says his son, " The most impetuous blast
" Will spend its fury, and subside at last. "
So after swearing, raving, all in vain,
What could I do, but be — myself again?
My native tenderness awak'd in sighs,
And all the woman lighten'd in my eyes;
" Which of thy daughters, Z ION ! canst thou tell,
" Detains that lover who once lov'd so well?
" Why lag these feet that once outstript the wind?
" Slow are his steps that leaves a heart behind:
" Who could have thought he e'er would prove untrue,
" So firm the sanction, and so great the vow!
" By J ACOB'S God , the dreadful God , he swore,
" The holy temple, and the mystic gore;
" By D AVID'S throne, the Majesty divine,
" Which thro' all ages shall adorn his line,
" Ever to love me, concubine or wife,
" Or to be blotted from the book of life.
" Rash was the oath — if heav'n the sorseit spare,
" Thy spouse will pardon, and do thou repair;
" A very little will my claims content,
" 'Tis no great matter sure, — be complaisant .
" How could, alas! my single charms prevail
" Against the thousands of thy great serail?
" But still one night or two, or more than two,
" I may at least insist on as my due. "

Thus of feign'd falsehoods did my tongue complain,
While all my heart was harrow'd up with pain;
My troubled thoughts still chang'd from this to that,
I fear'd, I hop'd, I wish'd, I knew not what:
But hark! is this my royal lover's voice?
" Awake, my fair! my best belov'd arise;
" A chilly tremor o'er my frame is spread,
" And night's unwholesome damps are on my head. "
The well-known sound went thrilling to my heart,
Tho' still I meant to act the prudish part;
I strove my rising tenderness to hide,
And with affected coolness thus reply'd:
" You come, my dear! at an improper hour,
" However willing, 'tis not in my pow'r;
" Indeed it is not — I have wash'd my feet
" With precious ointments, and with odours sweet;
" And then my clothes are ev'ry rag mislaid,

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