The Virginia Gazette

POET'S CORNER.

The HAPPY PAIR.

BEATI QUI AMANT CUM AQUALITER REDAMANTUR.

Love bids me write, a pleasing tale rehearse,
And Lesbia's name adorn the living verse.

'Twas had the sun descended in the main,
And just withdrawn his glories from the plain,
When Lesnia left the covert of the grove,
Best seat of meditation and of love!
Musing she went along the blushing vale,
And gently sighing to the passing gale;
The passing gale her gentle sighs conveyed,
And eased the bosom of the beauteous maid.

Love bids me write, ye soft, ye amorous fair,
Trust not your passion to the wanton air.

Where stays Alexis (thus the damsel cried)
Where stays Alexis Echo straight replied;
Come gentle youth, come quickly ease my pain,
The sportive nymph repeats the call again.

Love bids me write, ye virgins kind and young,
Let peaceful silence ever rule your tongue.

The warbling throng was now retired to rest,
And lodged securely in the quiet nest;
The bleating flocks were from their pastures driven,
And clouds cerulean decked the face of Heaven.
Calm was the eve, the stars resplendent shone,
And in mild lustre rose the silver moon.
Her trembling rays danced through the silent bower,
Whilst dews distilled from every fragrant flower.

A gray bank did Lesnia's steps invite,
And grateful was the coolness of the night;
But ah! what anxious thoughts possessed her mind!
Alexis haste, your Lesbia will be kind.

Love bids me write, ye maids such places shun,
When Cynthia rules the skies, or you're undone.

Here were her graceful limbs supinely laid,
The blooming Loves and Cupid round her played
A gentle slumber did her eyelids close,
And courted the fair one to a kind repose:

Alexis came, and lost in fond surprise
On Lesbia's beauties fixed his ravished eyes.

Love bids me write, ye damsels coy and shy,
Let not your charms your lovers too descry.

Entranced a while, and motionless he stood
(As some tall poplar in the Paphian wood,
When scarce a zephyr, or a gentle breeze,
Flies through the grove, or whispers in the trees)
Now trembling, doubting, durst not silence break,
Wishing she would, and fearing she should wake.

Love bids me write, ye loving youths beware
How ye disturb the slumbers of the fair.

Morpheus her heaving bosom now oppressed,
And dreams and fancies interrupted her rest;
At length a smile stole on her beauteous face,
A glowing blush, improving every grace;
She sighed, she spake, Alas! I'm much to blame,
O! dearest youth! too worthy of my flame.

Love bids me write, be cautious, don't reveal,
In dreams, fond nymphs, what you would fain conceal.

Who can express his joy, his great surprise!
With eager haste to Lesbia's arms he flies.
Confused, yet pleased, she saw without disdain,
Nor blushed to own her passion to the swain.
A thousand soft endearments each displayed,
And thus Alexis spake the trembling maid:

Joy of my soul, O how shall I impart
The soft emotions of my melting heart!
I'm thine, my fair, eternally I'm thine,
Nor ask I greater bliss, since Lesbia's mine.

Love bade me write, a pleasing tale I've told,
Get husbands, maids, before you grow too old.