To vex thy soul with these unjust alarms,
Fie dear mistrustful, canst thou doubt thy charms,
Or think a breast so young and soft as mine
Could e’er resist such charming eyes as thine?
Not love thee! witness all ye powers above,
(That know my heart) to what excess I love,
How many tender sighs for thee I’ve spent,
I who ne’er knew what serious passion meant,
Till to revenge his slighted votaries,
The God of Love, couched in thy beauteous eyes, [10]
At once inspired and fixed my roving heart,
Which till that moment scorned his proudest dart.
And now I languish out my life for thee,
As others unregarded do for me;
Silent as night, and pensive as a dove,
Through shades more gloomy than my thoughts I rove,
With downcast eyes as languishing an air,
The emblem I of love, and of Despair.