Let us drink and sport to-day, Ours is not to-morrow; Time's on the wing, Life never knows the return of spring. [From the "Beggar's Opera."] GO, ROSE. JOHN GAY. Go, rose, my Chloe's bosom grace; There, Phoenix-like, beneath her eye Involv'd in fragrance, burn and die! Know hapless flower, that thou shalt find More fragrant roses there; I see thy withering head reclin'd With envy and despair. One common fate we both must prove, You die with envy, I with love. [From the fable of "The Poet and the Rose," thus introduced :— As in the cool of early day A poet sought the sweets of May, A rose, he plucked, he gaz'd, admir'd The poet complained with truth, that: In every love song roses bloom.] SWEET WILLIAM'S FAREWELL TO BLACK-EYED SUSAN. JOHN GAY. All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd, 'Oh! where shall I my true love find? William, then high upon the yard, Rock'd with the billows to and fro, Soon as her well-known voice he heard, He sigh'd, and cast his eyes below; The cord slides quickly through his glowing hands, And (quick as lightning) on the deck he stands. So the sweet lark high pois'd in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast, The noblest captain in the British fleet O Susan! Susan! lovely dear! My vows shall ever true remain! Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be Believe not what the landmen say, Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind; Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so, If to far India's coast we sail, Thine eyes are seen in diamonds bright; Thy breath is Afric's spicy gale, Thy skin is ivory so white; Thus ev'ry beauteous object that I view, Tho' battle call me from thy arms, Let not my pretty Susan mourn : William shall to his dear return: Love turns aside the balls that round me fly, The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosom spread; No longer must she stay aboard; They kiss'd-she sigh'd-he hung his head: The lessening boat unwilling rows to landAdieu! she cries, and waved her lily hand. THE COMPLAINT. The sun was sunk beneath the hill, Who seeks to pluck the fragrant rose From the bare rock, or oozy beach; I have no herds, no fleecy care, No fields that wave with golden grain. How wretched is the faithful youth, Since womens hearts are bought and sold? They ask no vows of sacred truth, Whene'er they sigh, they sigh for gold. Gold can the frowns of scorn remove, But I, alas! have nought but love. To buy the gems of India's coast, What wealth, what treasure can suffice? For these the world too cheap would prove; Then Mary! since nor gems, nor ore, Than glittering gems, a soul sincere : Who pays thy worth, must pay in love. [This very beautiful Song is printed with many variations. I have selected the most poetical for the text, instead of "then Mary" some read "O Silvia?" It has been imputed to Gay ?] Of all the girls that are so smart, She is the darling of my heart, Her father he makes cabbage nets, And through the streets does cry 'em ; Her mother she sells laces long, To such as please to buy 'em : But sure such folks cou'd ne'er beget So sweet a girl as Sally; She is the darling of my heart, And she lives in our alley. |