Passion's Cry

My steps Fate on a mad conjuncture thrust,
'Twas grav'd in ir'n, the stern decree, "You Must!" ----
Ah, no. the plume pluck'd from the am'rous dove,
The Sentence flam'd in golden lines of love. --
Wild erring from the path by Virtue shown,
I snatch'd a flower in Virtue's ways unknown;
A flower With charms methought to raptur'd sense more sweet
Than aught in Virtue's walks I e'er could meet: -
The lovely Flower fond in my bosom worn,
I knew, or heeded not the its poison'd thorn.-
O, why is bitter mem'ry so alive,
When pleasures, Friendships, Loves, nor Hopes survive!
O'er joys no more, fond recollection burns;
Thy image haunts & blesses me by turns;
The desp'rate barbs are flesh'd deep in my heart,
Death, & Death only can extract the dart ;
His bowl alone can drug my soul to rest:
But be thou happy! be thou ever blest!
Mild zephyrs waft thee to life's farthest shore,
Nor think of me, or my distresses more! -
Falsehood accursed! No. still I beg a place,
Still near thy heart some little, little trace,
For that dear trace, the world I would resign,
Oh, let me live - and die - & think it mine!
Thou despot, Love, whom all my powers obey,
Why lord it thus with such tyrannic sway! -
In vain the Laws his feeble force oppose;
Chain'd at his feet, they groan Love's vanquish'd foes:
In vain Religion meets my shrinking eye;
I dare not combat - but I turn & fly:
Conscience in vain upbraids th' unhallow'd fire:
Love grasps her scorpions, stifled they expire:
Reason

Reason drops headlong from his sacred throne,
Thy dear idea reigns & reigns alone:
Each thought intoxicated homage yields,
And riots, wanton, in forbidden fields.

By all on high, adoring mortals know!
By all the conscious Villian fears below!
By, what, Alas! much more my soul alarms,
My doubtful hopes once more to fill thy arms!
E'en should'st thou, false, forswear, each the guilty tie,
Thine, & thine only, I must live & die !!!