* * * * *

TO A LADY, WHO PRESENTED THE AUTHOR A LOCK OF HAIR, BRAIDED WITH HIS OWN, AND APPOINTED A NIGHT IN DECEMBER, TO MEET HIM IN THE GARDEN.

  These locks which fondly thus entwine,
  In firmer chains our hearts confine;
  Than all th’ unmeaning protestations,
  Which swell with nonsense, love orations. 
  Our love is fix’d, I think we’ve prov’d it,
  Nor time, nor place, nor art, have mov’d it;
  Then wherefore should we sigh, and whine,
  With groundless jealousy repine. 
  With silly whims, and fancies frantic,
  Merely to make our love romantic. 
  Why should you weep like Lydia Languish,
  And fret with self-created anguish. 
  Or doom the lover you have chosen,
  On winter nights, to sigh half frozen: 
  In leafless shades, to sue for pardon,
  Only because the scene’s a garden. 
  For gardens seem by one consent
  (Since SHAKESPEARE set the precedent;)
  (Since Juliet first declar’d her passion)
  To form the place of assignation. 
  Oh! would some modern muse inspire,
  And seat her by a sea-coal fire,
  Or had the bard at Christmas written,
  And laid the scene of love in Britain;
  He surely in commiseration,
  Had chang’d the place of declaration. 
  In Italy I’ve no objection,
  Warm nights are proper for reflection;
  But here, our climate is so rigid,
  That love itself, is rather frigid;
  Think on our chilly situation,
  And curb this rage for imitation. 
  Then let us meet, as oft we’ve done,
  Beneath the influence of the sun;
  Or, if at midnight I must meet you,
  Oh! let me in your chamber greet you;
  There we can love for hours together,
  Much better in such snowy weather,
  Than plac’d in all th’ Arcadian groves,
  That ever witness’d rural loves;
  There if my passion fail to please,
  Next night I’ll be content to freeze;
  No more I’ll give a loose to laughter,
  But curse my fate, forever after.

* * * * *

TO A BEAUTIFUL QUAKER.

  Sweet girl! though only once we met,
  That meeting I shall ne’er forget;
  And though we ne’er may meet again,
  Remembrance will thy form retain;
  I would not say, “I love” but still
  My senses struggle with my will;
  In vain to drive thee from my breast,
  My thoughts are more and more represt,
  In vain, I check the rising sighs,
  Another to the last replies;
  Perhaps this is not love, but yet
  Our meeting I can ne’er forget.