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Poem
July 2, 1793
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A didactic poem titled 'The Lover's Lesson' advises a young woman to uphold modesty and virtue, which enhance her beauty and attract a worthy suitor, while rejecting rude advances.
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OCR Quality
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Excellent
Full Text
The Lover's Lesson.
Forgive me fair, nor take it wrong
If aught too much I do,
Permit me, when I give a song
To give a lesson too.
Let modesty, that heav'n born maid.
Your words and actions grace,
Tis this, and only this will add,
New lustre to your face.
'Tis this will paint the virgin's cheek,
Beyond the pow'r of art,
And ev'ry real blush bespeak,
The goodness of the heart.
This index, of the virtuous mind,
Your lovers, will adore,
Tis this, will leave a charm behind,
When bloom can charm no more,
Inspir'd by this, with nice reserve,
To idle men behave,
And learn by distance to maintain;
The pow'r your beauty gave.
With this, their silly jets reprove,
When coxcombs dare intrude,
Nor think the man is worth your love,
That ventures to be rude.
But patient, let each virtuous fair,
Expect the gen'rous youth,
Whom heav'n has doot'd her heart to share,
And blest with love and truth.
For him alone preserve your hand,
And wait the happy day,
When he with justice may command,
And you with joy obey.
Forgive me fair, nor take it wrong
If aught too much I do,
Permit me, when I give a song
To give a lesson too.
Let modesty, that heav'n born maid.
Your words and actions grace,
Tis this, and only this will add,
New lustre to your face.
'Tis this will paint the virgin's cheek,
Beyond the pow'r of art,
And ev'ry real blush bespeak,
The goodness of the heart.
This index, of the virtuous mind,
Your lovers, will adore,
Tis this, will leave a charm behind,
When bloom can charm no more,
Inspir'd by this, with nice reserve,
To idle men behave,
And learn by distance to maintain;
The pow'r your beauty gave.
With this, their silly jets reprove,
When coxcombs dare intrude,
Nor think the man is worth your love,
That ventures to be rude.
But patient, let each virtuous fair,
Expect the gen'rous youth,
Whom heav'n has doot'd her heart to share,
And blest with love and truth.
For him alone preserve your hand,
And wait the happy day,
When he with justice may command,
And you with joy obey.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Modesty
Virtue
Love
Courtship
Blush
Coxcombs
Generous Youth
Poem Details
Title
The Lover's Lesson.
Form / Style
Rhymed Couplets
Key Lines
Forgive Me Fair, Nor Take It Wrong
If Aught Too Much I Do,
Permit Me, When I Give A Song
To Give A Lesson Too.
'Tis This Will Paint The Virgin's Cheek,
Beyond The Pow'r Of Art,
And Ev'ry Real Blush Bespeak,
The Goodness Of The Heart.
But Patient, Let Each Virtuous Fair,
Expect The Gen'rous Youth,
Whom Heav'n Has Doot'd Her Heart To Share,
And Blest With Love And Truth.