Wings to the feet ye lend, O'er hill and vale ye sendThe lover far from home;When shall I, on your breast,.
Ye kindly muses, rest, And cease at length to roam?
1800.
FOUND.
ONCE through the forestAlone I went;
To seek for nothingMy thoughts were bent.
I saw i' the shadowA flower stand there As stars it glisten'd,As eyes 'twas fair.
I sought to pluck it,--It gently said:
"Shall I be gather'dOnly to fade?"
With all its rootsI dug it with care, And took it homeTo my garden fair.
In silent cornerSoon it was set;
There grows it ever,There blooms it yet.
1815.
LIKE AND LIKE.
A FAIR bell-flowerSprang tip from the ground;And early its fragranceIt shed all around;A bee came thitherAnd sipp'd from its bell;That they for each otherWere made, we see well.
1814.
RECIPROCAL INVITATION TO THE DANCE.
THE INDIFFERENT.
COME to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.
If thou my sweetheart art not, thou canst be so,But if thou wilt not, we still will dance on.
Come to the dance with me, come with me, fair one!
Dances a feast-day like this may well crown.
THE TENDER.
Loved one, without thee, what then would all feast be?
Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?
If thou my sweetheart wert not, I would dance not.
If thou art still so, all life is one feast.
Loved one, without thee, what then would all feasts be?
Sweet one, without thee, what then were the dance?
THE INDIFFERENT.
Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.
Let us whirl round in the waltz's gay measure,And let them steal to the dim-lighted wood.
Let them but love, then, and leave us the dancing!
Languishing love cannot bear the glad dance.
THE TENDER.
Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.
Cupid, the near one, o'erhears their deriding,Vengeance takes suddenly, vengeance takes soon.
Let them whirl round, then, and leave us to wander!
Wand'ring to love is a heavenly dance.
1789.
SELF-DECEIT.
My neighbour's curtain, well I see,Is moving to and fin.
No doubt she's list'ning eagerly,If I'm at home or no.
And if the jealous grudge I boreAnd openly confess'd, Is nourish'd by me as before,Within my inmost breast.
Alas! no fancies such as theseE'er cross'd the dear child's thoughts.
I see 'tis but the ev'ning breezeThat with the curtain sports.
1803.
DECLARATION OF WAR.
OH, would I resembledThe country girls fair, Who rosy-red ribbonsAnd yellow hats wear!
To believe I was prettyI thought was allow'd;In the town I believed itWhen by the youth vow'd.
Now that Spring hath return'd,All my joys disappear;The girls of the countryHave lured him from here.
To change dress and figure,Was needful I found, My bodice is longer,My petticoat round.
My hat now is yellow.
My bodice like snow;
The clover to sickleWith others I go.
Something pretty, e'er longMidst the troop he explores;The eager boy signs meTo go within doors.
I bashfully go,--Who I am, he can't trace;
He pinches my cheeks,And he looks in my face.
The town girl now threatensYou maidens with war;Her twofold charms pledges.
Of victory are.
1803.
LOVER IN ALL SHAPES.
To be like a fish, Brisk and quick, is my wish;If thou cam'st with thy line.
Thou wouldst soon make me thine.
To be like a fish, Brisk and quick, is my wish.
Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed.
Oh, were I a car Fit to bear thee afar!
Oh, were I a steed!
Thou wouldst love me indeed.
I would I were gold That thy fingers might hold!
If thou boughtest aught then, I'd return soon again.
I would I were gold That thy fingers might hold!
I would I were true, And my sweetheart still new!
To be faithful I'd swear, And would go away ne'er.
I would I were true, And my sweetheart still new!
I would I were old, And wrinkled and cold, So that if thou said'st No, I could stand such a blow!
I would I were old, And wrinkled and cold.
An ape I would be, Full of mischievous glee;If aught came to vex thee, I'd plague and perplex thee.
An ape I would be, Full of mischievous gleeAs a lamb I'd behave, As a lion be brave, As a lynx clearly see, As a fox cunning be.
As a lamb I'd behave, As a lion be brave.
Whatever I were, All on thee I'd confer;With the gifts of a prince My affection evince.
Whatever I were, All on thee I'd confer.
As nought diff'rent can make me, As I am thou must take me!
If I'm not good enough, Thou must cut thine own stuff.
As nought diff'rent can make me, As I am thou must take me!
1815.
THE GOLDSMITH'S APPRENTICE.
My neighbour, none can e'er deny,Is a most beauteous maid;Her shop is ever in mine eye,When working at my trade.
To ring and chain I hammer thenThe wire of gold assay'd, And think the while: "For Kate, oh whenWill such a ring be made?"And when she takes her shutters down,Her shop at once invade, To buy and haggle, all the town,For all that's there displayd.
I file, and maybe overfileThe wire of gold assay'd;My master grumbles all the while,--Her shop the mischief made.
To ply her wheel she straight begins,When not engaged in trade;I know full well for what she spins,--'Tis hope guides that dear maid.
Her leg, while her small foot treads on,Is in my mind portray'd;Her garter I recall anon,--I gave it that dear maid.
Then to her lips the finest threadIs by her hand convey'd.
Were I there only in its stead,How I would kiss the maid!
1808.
ANSWERS IN A GAME OF QUESTIONS.
THE LADY.
IN the small and great world too,What most charms a woman's heart?
It is doubtless what is new,For its blossoms joy impart;Nobler far is what is true,For fresh blossoms it can shootEven in the time of fruit.
THE YOUNG GENTLEMAN.
With the Nymphs in wood and caveParis was acquainted well, Till Zeus sent, to make him rave,Three of those in Heav'n who dwell;And the choice more trouble gaveThan e'er fell to mortal lot,Whether in old times or not.
THE EXPERIENCED.
Tenderly a woman view,And thoult win her, take my word;He who's quick and saucy too,Will of all men be preferr'd;Who ne'er seems as if he knewIf he pleases, if he charms,--He 'tis injures, he 'tis harms.
THE CONTENTED.
