The Book of Scottish Song/Thy fatal shafts

by Tobias Smollett

Thy fatal shafts.

[Smollett.—Tune, "An' then wert my ain thing."]

Thy fatal shafts unerring move;
I bow before thine altar. Love!
I feel thy soft resistless flame
Glide swift through all nay vital frame!

For while I gaze my bosom glows,
My blood in tides impetuous flows;
Hope, fear, and joy, alternate roll,
And floods of transport 'whelm my soul.

My falt'ring tongue attempts in vain
In soothing murmurs to complain;
My tongue some secret magic ties,
My murmurs sink in broken sighs!

Condemn'd to nurse eternal care,
And ever drop the silent tear,
Unheard I mourn, unknown I sigh,
Unfriended live, unpitied die!

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