TO HENRY .
?A ND has that heart, unmoved so long
?By beauty, softness, wit, and song,
At length been taught love's pleasing pains to feel?
Ah! no;....I fear, not e'en Amanda's charms
Have in thy breast waked passion's fond alarms:
But let my verse love's genuine signs reveal,....
And if your blushes answering symptoms prove,
Then will I own that you have learnt to love.
?If with confusion's deepening red
?Your manly cheek be not o'erspread
Whene'er by chance you hear Amanda's name,....
Or if, when unexpected she's in sight,
You feel not mingled tremors and delight,
That shake, that agitate your conscious frame,....
If these emotions, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you hear her praise employ
?The tongue of eloquence, no joy
Glows on your cheek, nor sparkles in your eye,....
Or if, when censure dares assail the maid,
Your angry brow will not the tale upbraid,
And faltering tongue in vain for utterance try,....
If this strange conflict, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you seek the well-known glade
?Where oft you've with Amanda strayed,
Your fancy does not fondly paint her nigh,
And in her form some distant stranger dress,
While you to meet her with quick footsteps press,
And when you see your error deeply sigh,....
If this delusion, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If eager hopes your bosom warm
?That the loved fair-one's beauteous form
On such a favouring hour will glad your sight;
Then should you only see her flowing vest
And feel not tender rapture fire your breast,
Think on't all day, and dream of it all night,....
If this fantastic joy you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If you've by chance the riband found
?Which once her wanton tresses bound,
Or the gay flowret that adorned her breast,
And gaze not, dote not on the precious prize,
Let it all day attract your lips, your eyes,
And every night upon your bosom rest,....
If this refined delight you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If in far distant scenes you stray,
?When through the skies forked lightnings play
And rolling thunders threaten midst the gloom,
And tremble not lest the loved absent maid
Should want, perchance, your fond supporting aid,
Or fear some flash may mark her for the tomb,....
If these fond terrors, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you bid the nymph adieu,
?You ne'er in thought her image view
And seem her soft seducing voice to hear,
Revolve each trifling action in your mind,
Say ‘such a look and such a word were kind,’
But the next moment feel a jealous fear;....
If this transition, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not.....for know you have not learnt to love.
?A ND has that heart, unmoved so long
?By beauty, softness, wit, and song,
At length been taught love's pleasing pains to feel?
Ah! no;....I fear, not e'en Amanda's charms
Have in thy breast waked passion's fond alarms:
But let my verse love's genuine signs reveal,....
And if your blushes answering symptoms prove,
Then will I own that you have learnt to love.
?If with confusion's deepening red
?Your manly cheek be not o'erspread
Whene'er by chance you hear Amanda's name,....
Or if, when unexpected she's in sight,
You feel not mingled tremors and delight,
That shake, that agitate your conscious frame,....
If these emotions, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you hear her praise employ
?The tongue of eloquence, no joy
Glows on your cheek, nor sparkles in your eye,....
Or if, when censure dares assail the maid,
Your angry brow will not the tale upbraid,
And faltering tongue in vain for utterance try,....
If this strange conflict, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you seek the well-known glade
?Where oft you've with Amanda strayed,
Your fancy does not fondly paint her nigh,
And in her form some distant stranger dress,
While you to meet her with quick footsteps press,
And when you see your error deeply sigh,....
If this delusion, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If eager hopes your bosom warm
?That the loved fair-one's beauteous form
On such a favouring hour will glad your sight;
Then should you only see her flowing vest
And feel not tender rapture fire your breast,
Think on't all day, and dream of it all night,....
If this fantastic joy you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If you've by chance the riband found
?Which once her wanton tresses bound,
Or the gay flowret that adorned her breast,
And gaze not, dote not on the precious prize,
Let it all day attract your lips, your eyes,
And every night upon your bosom rest,....
If this refined delight you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If in far distant scenes you stray,
?When through the skies forked lightnings play
And rolling thunders threaten midst the gloom,
And tremble not lest the loved absent maid
Should want, perchance, your fond supporting aid,
Or fear some flash may mark her for the tomb,....
If these fond terrors, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not,....for know you have not learnt to love.
?If, when you bid the nymph adieu,
?You ne'er in thought her image view
And seem her soft seducing voice to hear,
Revolve each trifling action in your mind,
Say ‘such a look and such a word were kind,’
But the next moment feel a jealous fear;....
If this transition, youth, you never prove,
Sigh not.....for know you have not learnt to love.