page xxi

The Lover’s Request.

Ah! who can feel that tender passion
Glowing in a lover’s breast,
Inspired with joys at love’s persuasion,
Felt, but cannot be express’d?
Though often slighted most severely,
Hers my heart doth still remain,
Fondly inquiring most sincerely,
Shall we never love again?

How Cupids round my slumbers hover,
Pointing me her likeness fair!
But fancy’s freaks, I soon discover,
Fly, to change my joys to care.
While glows my breast, to love her dearly,
tFae, why should’st thou me refrain,—
Let me but ask this once sincerely,
Shall we never love again?

Oh! cease to tease me perturbation,
Retrospection loves to scan
My joys and cares in close rotation,
Since that hour our loves began.
Hopeful fancy—blissful vision—
Fondly I your joys retain;
Hasten, O Time! that blest decision
When we’ll dearly love again.