7.

Will not the laughing boy despise

Her who relates each fond conceit―
Who, thinking Heaven is in her eyes,
Yet cannot see the slight deceit ?

8.

For she who takes a soft delight

These amorous nothings in revealing,

Must credit all we say or write,

While vanity prevents concealing.

9.

Cease, if you prize your Beauty's reign!
No jealousy bids me reprove:
One, who is thus from nature vain,

I pity, but I cannot love.

January 15, 1807. [First published, 1832.]

TO ANNE.1

I.

Oн, Anne, your offences to me have been grievous:

I thought from my wrath no atonement could save you;

But Woman is made to command and deceive us

I look'd in your face, and I almost forgave you.

1. [Miss Anne Houson.]

2.

I vow'd I could ne'er for a moment respect you,
Yet thought that a day's separation was long;
When we met, I determined again to suspect you—
Your smile soon convinced me suspicion was wrong.

3.

I swore, in a transport of young indignation,

With fervent contempt evermore to disdain you:

I saw you—my anger became admiration;

And now, all my wish, all my hope's to regain you.

4.

With beauty like yours, oh, how vain the contention!
Thus lowly I sue for forgiveness before you ;-

At once to conclude such a fruitless dissension,

Be false, my sweet Anne, when I cease to adore you! January 16, 1807. [First published, 1832.

EGOTISM. A LETTER TO J. T. BECHER.1

Εαυτὸν Βύρων αἔιδει.

I.

IF Fate should seal my Death to-morrow,
(Though much I hope she will postpone it,)
I've held a share of Joy and Sorrow,

Enough for Ten; and here I own it.

1. [From an autograph MS. at Newstead, now for the first time printed.]

2.

I've lived as many other men live,

And yet, I think, with more enjoyment; For could I through my days again live, I'd pass them in the same employment.

3.

That is to say, with some exception,

For though I will not make confession, I've seen too much of man's deception Ever again to trust profession.

4.

Some sage Mammas with gesture haughty, Pronounce me quite a youthful SinnerBut Daughters say, "although he's naughty, You must not check a Young Beginner!”

5.

I've loved, and many damsels know it

But whom I don't intend to mention,

As certain stanzas also show it,

Some say deserving Reprehension.

6.

Some ancient Dames, of virtue fiery,

(Unless Report does much belie them,)

Have lately made a sharp Enquiry,

And much it grieves me to deny them.

7.

Two whom I lov'd had eyes of Blue,

To which I hope you've no objection; The Rest had eyes of darker Hue

Each Nymph, of course, was all perfection.

8.

But here I'll close my chaste Description,

Nor say the deeds of animosity;

For silence is the best prescription,

To physic idle curiosity.

9.

Of Friends I've known a goodly Hundred-
For finding one in each acquaintance,
By some deceived, by others plunder'd,
Friendship, to me, was not Repentance.

IO.

At School I thought like other Children ;
Instead of Brains, a fine Ingredient,
Romance, my youthful Head bewildering,
To Sense had made me disobedient.

II.

A victim, nearly from affection,

To certain very precious scheming,

The still remaining recollection

Has cured my boyish soul of Dreaming.

12.

By Heaven! I rather would forswear

The Earth, and all the joys reserved me,

Than dare again the specious Snare,

From which my Fate and Heaven preserved me.

13.

Still I possess some Friends who love me-
In each a much esteemed and true one;
The Wealth of Worlds shall never move me
To quit their Friendship, for a new one.

14.

But Becher! you're a reverend pastor,
Now take it in consideration,
Whether for penance I should fast, or
Pray for my sins in expiation.

15.

I own myself the child of Folly,

But not so wicked as they make me

I soon must die of melancholy,

If Female smiles should e'er forsake me.

16.

Philosophers have never doubted,

That Ladies' Lips were made for kisses! For Love! I could not live without it,

For such a cursed place as This is.