Poems on Several Subjects, Song

Hear, heav'nly goddess, queen of love! A heart that owns thy fire; Let my distress thy pity move, And grant my fond desire.

Far absent from my soul's delight, I languish and complain: In tender accents day and night, I sooth my secret pain.

Pensive, I seek the lonely bow'r, Where to my cheated view, False fancy, by her magic pow'r, Doth former scenes renew.

And Strephon's look, and Strephon's smile, Please my deluded eye; His fancied presence, for a while, Affords a short-liy'd joy.

Since then no longer, as before, His converse I enjoy; Thus let my Strephon ever more My faithful mind employ.

Whene'er soft sleep shall over me Its happy influence shed, Oh! let his airy image be Still hov'ring round my bed!

With ev'ry native charm and grace Adorn the lovely youth; And in the sweetness of his face, Paint constancy and truth.