Classic Poem

Ah, cruel change! from gentle to severe;
Change ever proves unfriendly to the fair:
Shew me the man the wond'rous man, whose mind
Alters to kinder sentiments from kind?
No, there is no such man; or, if there be,
Who would not with the youth they love were he!
What maid would think she overdid her part,
To grasp the dear inconstant to her heart,
Discard each grim-ey'd guardian of her charms,
And fold, and closer fold him in her arms!
'Tes vision all! the same severe decree
Has ruin'd womankind that ruins me;
Fram'd, delicately fram'd, for social bliss,
We feel each finer passion in excess;
In love at length each female friendship ends;
We scarce distinguish lovers from our friends;
Nor have we learn'd, with philosophic pride,
From our's, another's mis'ry to divide.
But man is fashion'd in a rougher mould,
Insensible at best, and always cold;
His lumpish soul no gen'rous wish inspires,
No pity melts, no heart-felt rapture fires;
Or if for once it kindle into praise,
How soon the momentary flash decays!
Scarce have we time to hail the dawning light,
Ere the weak meteor vanishes in night;
With eager eyes we search around in vain,
And think to see it glimmering again!
Alas, how foolish! 'tis for ever gone,
With the delightful hour in which it shone!

Ah me! and must I never more prolong
The night, in list'ning to my D AMON 's song!
Alas! can love admit of no decrease,
That too, too little! yet be render'd less?
My happiness requires it should be so;
It must, it shall! tho' worlds should answer, No.

Y ES , D AMON , yes, a very weak excuse
Will screen the silence of your faithless muse;
Tell me, on systematic plains you stray,
" Borne on the wings of wisdom far away. "
But wherefore thus disturb my quiet? why
Regard your failings with too nice an eye?
Tho' gross be the deceit, if you deceive,
I pledge my maiden honour to believe .