Poems (Osgood)/Love's Mistake

by Frances Sargent Osgood

LOVE'S MISTAKE

Oh mission pure, from realms divine,
Young Love was sent to Virtue's shrine,
But, wild and gay, he "stopp'd to play"
With sportive Beauty by the way.

She led him thro' her balmy bowers,
She chain'd him with a wreath of flowers,
She charm'd him with her magic smile,
And softly murmur'd—"Rest awhile!"

Alas! his sight is blinded quite,
By Beauty's dazzling glance of light;
And while the wily siren sings,
The boy forgets his angel-wings!

Yet still he sometimes leaves his play,
And asks to Virtue's shrine the way;
But Beauty weaves anew her chain,
And Virtue looks for Love in vain.