Poems (Lewis)/Love at Sale
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POEMS.
LOVE AT SALE.
(The Idea is taken from a Greek Epigram.)
Come buy my ware! come buy! come buy!
Fond youths and curious maids, draw nigh;
I have this lovely wicked boy to sell.
Go not, fair girls, his cage too near!
Though mild his looks, his arrows fear;
Be still, the urchin's faults and merits while I tell.
Fond youths and curious maids, draw nigh;
I have this lovely wicked boy to sell.
Go not, fair girls, his cage too near!
Though mild his looks, his arrows fear;
Be still, the urchin's faults and merits while I tell.
He in this little form unites
The pangs of hell, and Heaven's delights;
He reigns the lord of every mortal heart:
He wounds the peasant, wounds the king,
And is the fairest, falsest thing,
That e'er excited joy, or bade a bosom smart.
The pangs of hell, and Heaven's delights;
He reigns the lord of every mortal heart:
He wounds the peasant, wounds the king,
And is the fairest, falsest thing,
That e'er excited joy, or bade a bosom smart.
Light as the wind, wild as the wave,
He's both a tyrant and a slave;
A fire that freezes, and a frost that's hot;
A bitter sweet, and luscious sour!—
Wretched is He, who knows his power;
Yet far more wretched still is He, who knows it not.
He's both a tyrant and a slave;
A fire that freezes, and a frost that's hot;
A bitter sweet, and luscious sour!—
Wretched is He, who knows his power;
Yet far more wretched still is He, who knows it not.
His tongue is with persuasion tipt;
His darts in poisoned honey dipt
Speed to the bosom their unerring flight;
His lips are rich in flattering lies,
And oft a fillet o'er his eyes
He binds, and so conceals his faults from his own sight.
His darts in poisoned honey dipt
Speed to the bosom their unerring flight;
His lips are rich in flattering lies,
And oft a fillet o'er his eyes
He binds, and so conceals his faults from his own sight.
He has two cheeks of blushing red;
He has two wings which still are spread,
When most his stay is wished, most swift to fly:
He joys in wanton tricks and wiles,
And mark! that when he sweetest smiles,
Then is the rogue most sure those tricks and wiles to try.
He has two wings which still are spread,
When most his stay is wished, most swift to fly:
He joys in wanton tricks and wiles,
And mark! that when he sweetest smiles,
Then is the rogue most sure those tricks and wiles to try.
For well alas! too well I know,
He is the source of every woe,
To faith a stranger, 'gainst contrition steeled;
But yet when first the false one came,
And kindled in my heart a flame,
Who had believed Deceit in such a form concealed!
He is the source of every woe,
To faith a stranger, 'gainst contrition steeled;
But yet when first the false one came,
And kindled in my heart a flame,
Who had believed Deceit in such a form concealed!
He begged so gently on my breast
Awhile his little head to rest!
He seemed so good, so grateful, and so meek!
He said, "he long had sought around
"A resting place—but none had found!—
"And then I saw a tear pearl down his rosy cheek.
Awhile his little head to rest!
He seemed so good, so grateful, and so meek!
He said, "he long had sought around
"A resting place—but none had found!—
"And then I saw a tear pearl down his rosy cheek.
Who could, unmoved, his accents hear?
Who had not wiped away that tear?
His tale of guile my ready ear believed;
He looked so sweet, he spoke so fair,
With ease the traitor gained his prayer,
And in my heart of hearts with transport was received.
Who had not wiped away that tear?
His tale of guile my ready ear believed;
He looked so sweet, he spoke so fair,
With ease the traitor gained his prayer,
And in my heart of hearts with transport was received.
But since I find, his friends most true
Have reason most his spite to rue,
I'll take dear-bought Conviction's sage advice,
And drive him from my breast away:
He shall no more my trust betray,
But be the slave of him who bids the highest price.
Have reason most his spite to rue,
I'll take dear-bought Conviction's sage advice,
And drive him from my breast away:
He shall no more my trust betray,
But be the slave of him who bids the highest price.
Observe, whoe'er shall buy this boy,
This offspring of Despair and Joy,
May have besides, (I've use for them no more)
A lot of jealous doubts and fears,
Of fainting Virtue's last pure tears,
Of treacherous smiles, and oaths which perjured lovers swore:
This offspring of Despair and Joy,
May have besides, (I've use for them no more)
A lot of jealous doubts and fears,
Of fainting Virtue's last pure tears,
Of treacherous smiles, and oaths which perjured lovers swore:
Of torches, their unsteady fires
Kindled by sweet Fifteen's desires;
Of hopes created by a guileful sigh;
Of worn-out wings; of broken darts,
Whose points still rankle in the hearts
Of fond forsaken maids!—Come buy! come buy! come buy!
Kindled by sweet Fifteen's desires;
Of hopes created by a guileful sigh;
Of worn-out wings; of broken darts,
Whose points still rankle in the hearts
Of fond forsaken maids!—Come buy! come buy! come buy!
But see him now for pardon sue!
See, how his eye of glossy blue
With mingled hope and grief he lifts to me!
Ah! lovely boy, thy fears dismiss,
Convinced by that forgiving kiss,
That I can never part from Julia and from thee.
See, how his eye of glossy blue
With mingled hope and grief he lifts to me!
Ah! lovely boy, thy fears dismiss,
Convinced by that forgiving kiss,
That I can never part from Julia and from thee.