Poems (David)/The Pursuit of Pleasure
THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE.
DAME Pleasure with alluring charms Doth her endless joys unfold,And unthinking mortals capture In her dazzling nets of gold.Ah! when caught all torn and wounded, But laughs alone in cruel scorn—Swiftly flees that fickle maiden— Leaves her victims all forlorn!
Oh! ye who wear so frail a wreath, Dip'd in Lethe's sluggish stream,As the gay and flow'ry garland Wove of airy Fancy's dream,—Ye wake to find the blossom faded, Past, alas! your happy day;And ye wildly start to find Love, Hope and Pleasure fled away!