Fugitive Pieces Part 7

4.

His religion to please neither _party_ is made, On _husbands_ 'tis _hard_, to the wives most uncivil; But I can't contradict what so oft has been said, "Though women are angels, yet wedlock's the devil."

5.

This terrible truth, even Scripture has told, Ye Bened.i.c.ks! hear me, and listen with rapture; If a glimpse of redemption you wish to behold, Of St. MATT.--read the second and twentieth chapter.

6.

'Tis surely enough upon earth to be vex'd, With wives who eternal confusion are spreading; "But in Heaven" (so runs the Evangelist's Text,) "We neither have giving in marriage, or wedding."

7.

From this we suppose, (as indeed well we may,) That should Saints after death, with their spouses put up more, And wives, as in life, aim at absolute sway, All Heaven would ring with the conjugal uproar.

8.

Distraction and discord would follow in course, Nor MATTHEW, nor MARK, nor St. PAUL, can deny it, The only expedient is general divorce, To prevent universal disturbance and riot.

9.

But though husband and wife, shall at length be disjoin'd Yet woman and man ne'er were meant to dissever, Our chains once dissolv'd, and our hearts unconfin'd, We'll love without bonds, but we'll love you forever.

10.

Though souls are denied you by fools and by rakes, Should you own it yourselves, I would even then doubt you, Your nature so much of _celestial_ partakes, The Garden of Eden would wither without you.

SOUTHWELL, _October_ 9, 1806.

THE TEAR.

1.

When Friends.h.i.+p or Love, Our sympathies move, When Truth in a glance should appear, The lips may beguile, With a dimple or smile, But the test of affection's a _tear_.

2.

Too oft is a smile, But the hypocrite's wile, To mask detestation, or fear, Give me the soft sigh, Whilst the soul telling eye Is dimm'd, for a time, with a _tear_.

3.

Mild charity's glow, To us mortals below, Shows the soul from barbarity clear, Compa.s.sion will melt, Where this virtue is felt, And its dew is diffused in a _tear_.

4.

The man doom'd to sail, With the blast of the gale, Through billows Atlantic to steer, As he bends o'er the wave, Which may soon be his grave, The green sparkles bright with a _tear_.

5.

The soldier braves death, For a fanciful wreath, In Glory's romantic career; But he raises the foe, When in battle laid low, And bathes every wound with a _tear_.

6.

When with high bounding pride, He returns to his bride, Renouncing the gore crimson'd spear; All his toils are repaid, When embracing the maid, From her eyelid he kisses the tear.

7.

Sweet scene of my youth, Seat of Friends.h.i.+p and Truth, Where Love chac'd each fast-fleeting year, Loth to leave thee I mourn'd, For a last look I turn'd, But thy spire was scarce seen through a _tear_.

8.

Though my vows I can pour, To my Mary no more, My Mary to love once so _dear_, In the shade of her bower, I remember the hour, She rewarded those vows with a _tear_.

9.

By another possest, May she live ever blest, Her name still my heart must revere, With a sigh I resign, What I once thought was mine, And forgive her deceit with a _tear_.

10.

Ye friends of my heart, Ere from you I depart, This hope to my breast is most near, If again we shall meet, In this rural retreat, May we _meet_, as we _part_, with a _tear_.

11.

When my soul wings her flight, To the regions of night, And my body shall sleep on its bier; As ye pa.s.s by the tomb, Where my ashes consume, Oh! moisten their dust with a _tear_.

12.

May no marble bestow, The splendour of woe, Which the children of Vanity rear, No fiction of fame, Shall blazon my name, All I ask, all I wish, is a _tear_.

BYRON, _October 26_, 1806.

REPLY TO SOME VERSES OF J.M.B. PIGOT, ESQ. ON THE CRUELTY OF HIS MISTRESS.

1.

Why PIGOT, complain, Of this damsel's disdain, Why thus in despair, do you fret?

For months you may try, But believe me a _sigh_, Will never obtain a coquette.

2.

Would you teach her to love, For a time seem to rove, At first she may _frown_ in a _pet_; But leave her awhile, She shortly will smile, And then you may _kiss_ your _coquette_.