My wife has no indulgence given, This earth breeds not our happiness. When I had my defiance given, Felt affliction and sorrow and sickness and dearth. Los flamed in my path, and the sun was hot With the bows of my mind and the arrows of thought: My bowstring fierce with ardour breathes, Now I a fourfold vision see, And a fourfold vision is given to me; MINIATURES Under this sub-title are grouped for the first time the few very short pieces, chiefly quotations, that contain beauty without irony. They are of dates, not always ascertainable, ranging from 1795 to 1804. Aн, luckless babe, born under cruel star, II THE Angel who presided at my birth Said,Little Creature, formed for joy and mirth, III THE Sword sang on the barren heath, IV O LAPWING, that fliest around the heath, I WALKED abroad on a snowy day, I asked the soft Snow with me to play; VI ABSTINENCE SOws sand all over The ruddy limbs and flaming hair; Plants fruits of life and beauty there. VII THE look of love alarms, Because 'tis filled with fire, These are beauty's sweetest dress. Deceit! Thy GALLANTRIES AND MOCKERIES Here are grouped the very short pieces that are amorous, but yet are not without some intention of sarcasm or derision. Four of the quatrains have titles in the MS. book, as printed here. I Ir e'er I grow to man's estate, May I govern all, both great and small, II HER whole life is an epigram, Smart, smooth, and nobly penned, III If you play a game of chance, Know before you begin, If you are benevolent You will never win. THE QUESTION ANSWERED IV WHAT is it men in women do require? V An old maid early, e'er I knew VI O, I cannot, cannot find The undaunted courage of a virgin mind; Before my flower of love was lost. MERLIN'S PROPHECY VII THE harvest shall flourish in wintry weather, When two virginities meet together. The king and priest must be tied in a tether, Before two virgins can meet together. VIII When a man marries a wife, Her elbows and knees are only ON THE VIRGINITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY AND JOHANNA SOUTHCOTT IX WHATE'ER is done to her she cannot know; IMITATION OF POPE AND COMPLIMENT TO X WONDROUS the gods, more wondrous are the men, More wondrous, wondrous still the cock and hen. More wondrous still the table, stool and chair, But ah! more wondrous still the charming fair. ΧΙ LET us approach the sighing dawns If a woman does not fear your frowns, XII To Chloe's breast young Cupid slily stole, XIII GROWN old in love from seven till seven times seven, I oft have wished for hell, for ease from heaven. (A Postscript labelled Stanza V, and originally intended to close the poem called Cupid' printed above on page 108.) XIV "TWAS the Greek's love of war And woman into a statue of stone, And away flew every joy. |