Classic Poem

I.

In all the state of sovereign love ,
See, see the worshipp'd Goddess shine!
While crowding suppliants round her move,
And every hope, too hard, for mine.

II.

Easy and sprightly, near her, see
The Son of titled L — N — LE plead!
Without a sigh , he smiles his plea,
And brings a heart , too gay, to bleed .

III.

Mark, next, a youth , more close, than he!
'Tis C — R — L , in his dawn of day:
Softly bold, and humbly free,
His French adroitness paves the way.

IV.

S — L — N no dangerous rival seems,
While he, forsaking love for wit ,
All unadoring, just, esteems ,
Crows , claps his wings , and leaves the Pit .

V.

In earnest struck, and sick, within ,
Young C — — — n with woes, would move;
Tells real pains, and thinks, to win
A Woman's heart by infelt love .

VI.

P — — — H'S noble Duke , with shape , and air ,
Adorning dignity with grace ,
From every look assaults the fair ,
And carries courtship , in his face .

VII.

In rear of these, and yet to come,
Her namesake , next, his fate to prove,
Stops short, and turns, in sight of Rome ,
And quits the Saints , to bow to love .

VIII.

What has poor J — RN — N to hope,
Dim-shining, in so bright a crowd?
Shall he, despairing, court a rope,
Or hopeless flame be still avowd?

IX.

Hang mean distrust — The Charmer knows,
What rapture dwells, in life and fire!
And never beauty wrongly chose,
That crown'd warm truth and met desire .