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Poem
July 16, 1793
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A speaker laments his lost carefree days, now ensnared by love for Nancy, invoking nature and art to aid in winning her heart, embracing the mingled joy and distress of passion.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A SONG.
My days have been so wondrous free,
The little birds that fly
With careless ease from tree to tree,
Were but as blest as I.
Ask gliding waters, if a tear
Of mine increased their stream?
Or ask the sighing gales, if e'er
I lent a sigh to them?
But now my former days retire,
And I'm by beauty caught;
The tender chains of sweet desire
Are fixed upon my thought.
An eager hope within my breast
Does every doubt control;
And lovely Nancy stands confest
The favourite of my soul.
Ye nightingales, ye twisting pines,
Ye swains that haunt the grove,
Ye gentle echoes, breezy winds,
Ye close retreats of love!
With all of nature, all of art,
Assist the dear design;
On each a young unpractised heart
To make her ever mine.
The very thought of change I hate,
As much as of despair;
Nor ever covet to be great,
Unless it be for her.
'Tis true, the passion in my mind
Is mixed with soft distress!
Yet while the fair I love is kind,
I cannot wish it less.
My days have been so wondrous free,
The little birds that fly
With careless ease from tree to tree,
Were but as blest as I.
Ask gliding waters, if a tear
Of mine increased their stream?
Or ask the sighing gales, if e'er
I lent a sigh to them?
But now my former days retire,
And I'm by beauty caught;
The tender chains of sweet desire
Are fixed upon my thought.
An eager hope within my breast
Does every doubt control;
And lovely Nancy stands confest
The favourite of my soul.
Ye nightingales, ye twisting pines,
Ye swains that haunt the grove,
Ye gentle echoes, breezy winds,
Ye close retreats of love!
With all of nature, all of art,
Assist the dear design;
On each a young unpractised heart
To make her ever mine.
The very thought of change I hate,
As much as of despair;
Nor ever covet to be great,
Unless it be for her.
'Tis true, the passion in my mind
Is mixed with soft distress!
Yet while the fair I love is kind,
I cannot wish it less.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Pastoral
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Nature Seasons
What keywords are associated?
Love Song
Nancy
Nature Invocation
Romantic Desire
Pastoral Elements
Sweet Distress
Poem Details
Title
A Song.
Subject
Falling In Love With Nancy
Key Lines
And Lovely Nancy Stands Confest The Favourite Of My Soul.
Ye Nightingales, Ye Twisting Pines, Ye Swains That Haunt The Grove, Ye Gentle Echoes, Breezy Winds, Ye Close Retreats Of Love!
With All Of Nature, All Of Art, Assist The Dear Design; On Each A Young Unpractised Heart To Make Her Ever Mine.
'Tis True, The Passion In My Mind Is Mixed With Soft Distress! Yet While The Fair I Love Is Kind, I Cannot Wish It Less.