Classic Poem

While in the Park I sing, the listning Deer
Attend my passion, and forget to fear.
When to the Beeches I report my flame,
They bow their Heads as if they felt the same:
To Gods appealing, when I reach their bowrs
With loud complaints, they answer me in showrs.
To thee a wild and cruel Soul is given,
More deaf than Trees, and prouder than the Heav'n.
Loves Foe profest, why dost thou falsly feign
Thy self a Sidney? from which Noble strain
He sprung, that could so far exalt the name
Of Love, and warm our Nation with his Flame,
That all we can of Love or high desire,
Seems but the smoak of am'rous Sidneys fire.
Nor call her Mother, who so well do's prove,
One breast may hold both Chastity and Love.
Never can she, that so exceeds the Spring
In Joy and Bounty, be suppos'd to bring
One so destructive; to no humane stock
We owe this fierce unkindness, but the Rock,
That cloven Rock produc'd thee, by whose side
Nature to recompence the fatal pride
Of such stern beauty, plac'd those healing springs,
Which not more help, than that destruction brings.
Thy heart no ruder than the rugged stone,
I might like Orpheus with my numerous moan
Melt to compassion; now my trait'rous song,
With thee conspires to do the Singer wrong:
While thus I suffer not my self to lose
The memory of what augments my woes:
But with my own breath still foment the Fire,
With flames as high as fancy can aspire.
This last complaint th'indulgent ears did pierce
Of just Apollo , President of Verse:
Highly concerned, that the Muse should bring
Damage to one whom he had taught to sing;
Thus he advis'd me, on yon aged Tree
Hang up thy Lute, and hy thee to the Sea,
That there with wonders thy diverted mind
Some truce at least may with this passion find.
Ah cruel Nymph! from whom her humble Swain
Flies for relief unto the raging Main;
And from the Winds and Tempests do's expect
A milder fate, than from her cold neglect:
Yet there he'll pray that the unkind may prove
Blest in her choice; and vows this endless Love
Springs from no hope of what she can confer,
But from those gifts which Heav'n has heap'd on her.