Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Mark Akenside. 17211770462. The Complaint
AWAY! away! | |
Tempt me no more, insidious Love: | |
Thy soothing sway | |
Long did my youthful bosom prove: | |
At length thy treason is discern’d, | 5 |
At length some dear-bought caution earn’d: | |
Away! nor hope my riper age to move. | |
I know, I see | |
Her merit. Needs it now be shown, | |
Alas! to me? | 10 |
How often, to myself unknown, | |
The graceful, gentle, virtuous maid | |
Have I admired! How often said— | |
What joy to call a heart like hers one’s own! | |
But, flattering god, | 15 |
O squanderer of content and ease | |
In thy abode | |
Will care’s rude lesson learn to please? | |
O say, deceiver, hast thou won | |
Proud Fortune to attend thy throne, | 20 |
Or placed thy friends above her stern decrees? |