Unluckily, ’twas then the month of May,
          When youthful hearts are often led astray,
          And soft desire can scarcely be concealed,
          But presses through the pores to be revealed. 
          How many do we see, by slow degrees,
          And, step by step, accord their all to please,
          Who, at the onset, never dreamed to grant
          The smallest favour to their fond gallant. 
          The god of love so archly acts his part,
          And, in unguarded moments, melts the heart,
          That many belles have tumbled in the snare,
          Who, how it happened, scarcely could declare.

          Whenthey had reached the pleasing secret spot;
          Young Hispal wished to go within the grot;
          Though nearly overcome, she this declined;
          But then his services arose to mind;
          Her life from Ocean’s waves, her honour too,
          To him she owed; what could he have in view? 
          A something, which already has been shown,
          Was saved through Hispal’s nervous arm alone: 
          Said he, far better bless a real friend,
          Than have each treasure rifled in the end,
          By some successful ruffian; think it o’er;
          You little dream for whom you guard the store.

          Theprincess felt the truth of this remark,
          And half surrendered to the loving spark;
          A show’r obliged the pair, without delay,
          To seek a shed:—­the place I need not say;
          The rest within the grotto lies concealed:—­
          The scenes of Cupid ne’er should be revealed. 
          Alaciel blame, or not—­I’ve many known,
          With less excuses, who’ve like favours shown.

          Alonethe cavern witnessed not their bliss;
          In love, a point once gained, naught feels amiss,
          If trees could speak that grew within the dell,
          What joys they viewed—­what stories they might tell! 
          The park, the lawn, the pleasure grounds, and bow’rs,
          The belts of roses, and the beds of flow’rs,
          All, all could whisper something of the kind;
          At length, both longed their friends again to find,
          Quite cloyed with love, they sighed to be at court;
          Thus spoke the fair her wishes to support.

          Lovedyouth, to me you must be ever dear;
          To doubt it would ungen’rous now appear;
          But tell me, pray, what’s love without desire,
          Devoid of fear, and nothing to acquire? 
          Flame unconfined is soon exhausted found,
          But, thwarted in its course ’twill long abound;
          I fear this spot, which we so highly prize,
          Will soon appear a desert in our eyes,