ON LOVE, TO A FRIEND
by: Mark Akenside (1721-1770)
- 1
- o, foolish youthto virtuous fame
- If now thy early hopes be vow'd,
- If true ambition's nobler flame
- Command thy footsteps from the crowd,
- Lean not to Love's enchanting snare;
- His songs, his words, his looks beware,
- Nor join his votaries, the young and fair.
- 2
- By thought, by dangers, and by toils,
- The wreath of just renown is worn;
- Nor will ambition's awful spoils
- The flowery pomp of ease adorn;
- But Love unbends the force of thought;
- By Love unmanly fears are taught;
- And Love's reward with gaudy sloth is bought.
- 3
- Yet thou hast read in tuneful lays,
- And heard from many a zealous breast,
- The pleasing tale of beauty's praise
- In wisdom's lofty language dress'd;
- Of beauty powerful to impart
- Each finer sense, each comelier art,
- And soothe and polish man's ungentle heart.
- 4
- If then, from Love's deceit secure,
- Thus far alone thy wishes tend,
- Go; see the white-wing'd evening hour
- On Delia's vernal walk descend:
- Go, while the golden light serene,
- The grove, the lawn, the soften'd scene
- Becomes the presence of the rural queen.
- 5
- Attend, while that harmonious tongue
- Each bosom, each desire commands:
- Apollo's lute by Hermes strung,
- And touch'd by chaste Minerva's hands,
- Attend. I feel a force divine,
- O Delia, win my thoughts to thine;
- That half the colour of thy life is mine.
- 6
- Yet conscious of the dangerous charm,
- Soon would I turn my steps away;
- Nor oft provoke the lovely harm,
- Nor lull my reason's watchful sway.
- But thou, my friendI hear thy sighs:
- Alas, I read thy downcast eyes;
- And thy tongue falters, and thy colour flies.
- 7
- So soon again to meet the fair?
- So pensive all this absent hour?
- O yet, unlucky youth, beware,
- While yet to think is in thy power.
- In vain with friendship's flattering name
- Thy passion veils its inward shame;
- Friendship, the treacherous fuel of thy flame!
- 8
- Once, I remember, new to Love,
- And dreading his tyrannic chain,
- I sought a gentle maid to prove
- What peaceful joys in friendship reign:
- Whence we forsooth might safely stand,
- And pitying view the love-sick band,
- And mock the wingèd boy's malicious hand.
- 9
- Thus frequent pass'd the cloudless day,
- To smiles and sweet discourse resign'd;
- While I exulted to survey
- One generous woman's real mind:
- Till friendship soon my languid breast
- Each night with unknown cares possess'd,
- Dash'd my coy slumbers, or my dreams distress'd.
- 10
- Fool that I wasAnd now, even now
- While thus I preach the Stoic strain,
- Unless I shun Olympia's view,
- An hour unsays it all again.
- O friend!when Love directs her eyes
- To pierce where every passion lies,
- Where is the firm, the cautious, or the wise?
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