'Twas in a mocking dream of night—

I fancied I had wings as light

As a young birds, and flew as fleet;

While Love, around whose beauteous feet,

I knew not why, hung chains of lead,

Pursued me, as I trembling fled;

And, strange to say, as swift as thought,

Spite of my pinions, I was caught!

What does the wanton Fancy mean

By such a strange, illusive scene?

I fear she whispers to my breast,

That you, sweet maid, have stolen its rest;

That though my fancy, for a while,

Hath hung on many a woman's smile,

I soon dissolved each passing vow,

And ne'er was caught by love till now!

[1] Barnes imagines from this allegory, that our poet married very late in life. But I see nothing in the ode which alludes to matrimony, except it be the lead upon the feet of Cupid; and I agree in the opinion of Madame Dacier, in her life of the poet, that he was always too fond of pleasure to marry.