My love, a timorous and tender flower, I can never Shape my thoughts of her into words to her.2 Her bond slave.3 Not deceived, But fondly overcome with female charm.* They (women) lie, we lie, all lie, but love no less. 5 The passion of love is to be conquered only by flying." The weak wanton Cupid Shall from your neck unloose his amorous folds, Be shook to air.7 O! for a lover-sightly, sprightly, sincere, and secret! But yet she listen'd-'tis enough— Who listens once, will listen twice; He comes too near, - who comes to be denied. It is a true rule that love is ever rewarded with the reciproque, or with an inward and secret contempt. 1 Coleridge (Remorse). 4 Par. Lost, book ix. 2 Werner. 3 Samson Agonistes. 5 Byron. Shall I like a hermit dwell Calling back the smallest part Were her hand as rich a prize What care I how chaste she be?! Nay-if she love me not, I care not for her, Shake at each nod that her caprice may dictate.2 Comme je savois bien qu'elles ne pensoient pas à moi, je n'avois ni la simplicité, ni la fatuité de penser à elles. J'aurois pu dire comme Atys, et avec plus de sincerité: J'aime les roses nouvelles, 1 Sir Walter Raleigh. 2 Old Play-motto to one of Scott's chapters (Novels); pro bably by himself. 3 Marmontel. He that loves, unloved again, Hath better store of love than brain.1 But we'll grow auld together, and never find The loss of youth, when youth grows on the mind.2 One joy shall make us smile, one sorrow mourn ; one age go with us; one hour of death shall close our eyes; and one cold grave shall hold us happy. Say but you hate me not!-Oh!-Speak!-Give but the softest breath to that enchanting word! 3 Wheresoever Providence shall dispose of the most valuable thing I know, I shall ever follow you with my sincerest wishes, and my best thoughts will be continually waiting upon you, when you neither hear of me nor them; your own guardian angels cannot be more constant nor more silent." Love! a passion which has caused the change of empires; a passion which has inspired heroism, and subdued avarice; a passion which he, who never felt never was happy; and he, who laughs at, never deserves to feel." Camp. Brit. Poets, iv. 403. 3 Love makes a Man. 2 Allan Ramsay. 4 Sic in orig. 5 Pope (Letters to several Ladies), xix. Johnson, iv. 396. Bosw. Croker's ed. CHAP. VIII. MARRIAGE. Now thou art mine! - for ever mine, With life to keep, and scarce with life resign.1 Than this fond kiss. O Lord, that lend'st me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness! For thou hast given me in this beauteous face If sympathy of love unite.2 Je veux, avec excès, vous aimer et vous plaire. Je ne veux en ce monde choisir Plus grand honneur que vous donner plaisir.* Thou hast sworn by thy God, my Jeanie, By that pretty white hand o' thine, And by a' the lowing stars in heaven, By a' the stars sown thick owre heaven, That thou shalt aye be mine! Then foul fa' the hands that wad loose sic band, And the heart that wad part sic love; But there's nae hand can loose my But the finger o' God above. 1 Byron. band 2 Second Part of King Henry VI. 4 Ronsard to Mary Queen of Scots. Tho' the wee, wee cot maun be my bield, An' my claithing e'er sae mean, I wad lap me up rich i' the faulds of luve, Her white arm wad be a pillow for me, Fu' safter than the down, An' luve wad winnow owre us his kind, kind wings, An' sweetly I'd sleep an' soun. Come here to me then, lass o' my luve, Come here and kneel wi' me, The morn is fu' o' the presence o' my God, And I canna pray but1 thee. And thou maun speak o' me to thy God, Hail! wedded love-mysterious law, true source The paradise of all things common else; By thee adulterous lust was driven from men, Of father, son, and brother first were known; Casual fruition; nor in court amours, Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, Felices ter et amplius, Quos irrupta tenet copula, nec malis 2 Cromek, Reliques, 20. 3 Milton, b. iv. 1. 750. |