1.

Lesbia! since far from you I've rang'd b ,

Our souls with fond affection glow not;

You say, 'tis I, not you, have chang'd,

I'd tell you why,—but yet I know not.

2.

Your polish'd brow no cares have crost;

And Lesbia! we are not much older c ,

Since, trembling, first my heart I lost,

Or told my love, with hope grown bolder.

3.

Sixteen was then our utmost age,

Two years have lingering pass'd away, love!

And now new thoughts our minds engage,

At least, I feel disposed to stray, love!

4.

"Tis I that am alone to blame,

I, that am guilty of love's treason;

Since your sweet breast is still the same,

Caprice must be my only reason.

5.

I do not, love! suspect your truth,

With jealous doubt my bosom heaves not;

Warm was the passion of my youth,

One trace of dark deceit it leaves not.

6.

No, no, my flame was not pretended;

For, oh! I lov'd you most sincerely;

And though our dream at last is ended

My bosom still esteems you dearly.

7.

No more we meet in yonder bowers;

Absence has made me prone to roving d ;

But older, firmer hearts than ours

Have found monotony in loving.

8.

Your cheek's soft bloom is unimpair'd,

New beauties, still, are daily bright'ning,

Your eye, for conquest beams prepar'd e ,

The forge of love's resistless lightning.

9.

Arm'd thus, to make their bosoms bleed,

Many will throng, to sigh like me, love!

More constant they may prove, indeed;

Fonder, alas! they ne'er can be, love!

1806.