Classic Poem

TO MR. EDWARD WALPOLE .

The gods, O Walpole! give no bliss sincere,
Wealth is disturb'd by care and pow'r by fear.
Of all the passions that employ the mind
In gentle love the sweetest joys we find,
Yet ev'n those joys dire Jealousy molests,
And blackens each fair image in our breasts.
O may the warmth of thy too tender heart
Ne'er feel the sharpness of his venom'd dart!
For thy own quiet think thy mistress just,
And wisely take thy happiness on trust.
Begin, my Muse! and Damon's woes rehearse
In wildest numbers and disorder'd verse.
On a romantick mountain's airy head
(While browsing goats at ease around him fed)
Anxious he lay with jealous cares opprest,
Distrust and anger lab'ring in his breast. —
The vale beneath a pleasing prospect yields
Of verdant meads and cultivated fields;
Thro' these a river rolls its winding flood
Adorn'd with various tusts of rising wood;
Here half-conceal'd in trees a cottage stands,
A castle there the op'ning plain commands;
Beyond a town with glitt'ring spires is crown'd,
And distant hills the wide horizon bound.
So charming was the scene a while the swain
Beheld delighted and forgot his pain,
But soon the stings infix'd within his heart
With cruel force renew'd their raging smart:
His flow'ry wreath which long with pride he wore,
The gift of Delia, from his brows he tore,
Then cry'd, " May all thy charms, ungrateful Maid!
" Like these neglected roses droop and fade!
" May angry Heav'n deform each guilty grace
" That triumphs now in that deluding face!
" Those alter'd looks may ev'ry shepherd fly,
" And ev'n thy Daphnis hate thee worse than I!
" Say, thou Inconstant! what has Damon done
" To lose the heart his tedious pains had won?
" Tell me what charms you in my rival find
" Against whose pow'r no ties have strength to bind?
" Has he like me with long obedience strove
" To conquer your disdain and merit love?
" Has he with transport ev'ry smile ador'd,
" And dy'd with grief at each ungentle word?
" Ah, no! the conquest was obtain'd with ease;
" He pleas'd you by not studying to please;
" His careless indolence your pride alarm'd,
" And had he lov'd you more he less had charm'd.
" O pain to think another shall possess
" Those balmy lips which I was wont to press!
" Another on her panting breast shall lie,
" And catch sweet madness from her swimming eye! —
" I saw their friendly flocks together feed,
" I saw them hand in hand walk o'er the mead;
" Would my clos'd eye had sunk in endless night
" Ere I was doom'd to bear that hateful sight!
" Where'er they pass'd be blasted ev'ry flow'r,
" And hungry wolves their helpless flocks devour! —
" Ah, wretched Swain! could no examples move
" Thy heedless heart to shun the rage of love?
" Hast thou not heard how poor Menalcas dy'd
" A victim to Parthenia's fatal pride?
" Dear was the youth to all the tuneful plain,
" Lov'd by the nymphs, by Phaebus lov'd, in vain:
" Around his tomb their tears the Muses paid,
" And all things mourn'd but the relentless maid.
" Would I could die like him and be at peace;
" These torments in the quiet grave would cease;
" There my vex'd thoughts a calm repose would find,
" And rest as if my Delia still were kind.
" No; let me live her falsehood to upbraid;
" Some god perhaps my just revenge will aid. —
" Alas! what aid, fond Swain! wouldst thou receive?
" Could thy heart bear to see its Delia grieve?
" Protect her Heav'n! and let her never know
" The slightest part of hapless Damon's wo:
" I ask no vengeance from the pow'rs above,
" All I implore is never more to love —
" Let me this fondness from my bosom tear,
" Let me forget that e'er I thought her fair.
" Come, cool Indifference! and heal my breast;
" Weary'd at length I seek thy downy rest:
" No turbulence of passion shall destroy
" My future case with flatt'ring hopes of joy.
" Hear, mighty Pan! and all ye Sylvans! hear
" What by your guardian deities I swear;
" No more my eyes shall view her fatal charms,
" No more I'll court the trait'ress to my arms;
" Not all her arts my steady soul shall move,
" And she shall find that reason conquers love! " —
Scarce had he spoke when thro' the lawn below
Alone he saw the beauteous Delia go;
At once transported he forgot his vow,
(Such perjuries the laughing gods allow!)
Down the steep hills with ardent haste he flew;
He found her kind and soon believ'd her true.