Kentucky Gazette

BEAUTY! by the gods ador'd,
Not less than by earth's haughty lord;
How long wilt thou my soul inthrall?
The bane of some—delight of all!
Wretch that I am! I fondly deem'd
Thy charm dissolv'd, for so it seem'd:
But only seem'd! 'Tis still possest,
To raise fresh tumults in my breast;
To fire, subdue, to sooth, to melt,
—For so by turns thy pow'rs are felt.
Oh cruel! thus to wake again,
So late to wake, these raptures vain,
How vain, alas! that Fair could tell,
Who bound me by her potent spell:
Who bound? O heav'ns! who still enchains.
My every thought, my heart retains.
What though she be another's now!
Tho' ta'en th' irrevocable vow!
Still, still, those eyes with softness beam;
Those smiles to me, an angel's seem:
While with delight my bosom glows,
As from her lips persuasion flows.
Blest Fair! though youth's ecstatic hour
Has wing'd its way—though coy that flow'r,
Whose fragrance in delirium sweet
My every sense has wrapt complete—
O lov'ly yet thou art, and young;
Art yet a theme for poet's tongue:
Who if he dar'd, aloud, thy name
Of liquid sweetness would proclaim:
And tell, delighted tell the while,
That still on him thou deign'st to smile!
O thus forever gracious prove;
Thus smile, thus look—superior love.
PROTEUS.