The Polly privateer (1816)/The Young Man's Dream

THE

YOUNG MAN's DREAM.

DEAR bleſs me, have I waken'd
out of my ſilent dream!
I dream'd I was low ſeated
beneath yon purling ſtream,
Where the water does flow clearly,
and Nature shows her gift,
Where the pretty trout and ſalmon
ſkip along the rocks and clift.

I had not long there been,
till there approach'd the shore
A beautiful young damſel
failing with her golden oar!
Her mariners in crimſon
near as I could diſcern,
While one more fairer than the reſt
ſat on her gilded ſtern.

Her maſt was made of amber,
and ſilk cords did them bind;
Her ſails they were as white as ſnow,
made of the holland fine.
With ornaments of muſic
they did both ſport and toy,
Like Venus and Queen Eleanor
going marching into Troy.

They rubbed on each bank,
they did both ſkip and dance,
The fish low in the water
they nimbly do advance:
But while this maid ſtood angling
all with her line and hook,
The pretty trout and ſalmon
ſkips along the rocks and clifts.

The violet, pink and daiſie,
well garnish'd on each bank;
And Neptune Flora cloathing,
they all ſtood in a rank.
Attended by a damſel fair,
convey'd me to a ball;
When I thought myſelf in Paradiſe,
I was in grief withal.

Her hair like threads of amber,
moſt glorious to be ſeen!
I took her for Diana,
or for ſome Grecian Queen.
Her lovely breaſt ſtood naked,
which did my heart inflame,
When I thought to infold her in my arms,
I found it was a dream!