Poems (Temple)/The Forsaken Husband
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The FORSAKEN HUSBAND.
Yes, she is fled! for ever fled!
(Ye throbs of madness spare my brain)
Nor shoot thro' this confused head
The burning messengers of pain!
(Ye throbs of madness spare my brain)
Nor shoot thro' this confused head
The burning messengers of pain!
Yes, she is fled! Oh word of woe—
Oh word that dooms my soul to die!
Quickens the sharp and deadly throe,
And wakes the wild and fruitless sigh.
Oh word that dooms my soul to die!
Quickens the sharp and deadly throe,
And wakes the wild and fruitless sigh.
How she would gaze and sweetly smile!
And fondly vow to leave me never!
How she would spread each cunning wile
To make my heart her own for ever!
​And fondly vow to leave me never!
How she would spread each cunning wile
To make my heart her own for ever!
"Oh!" she would cry, "let others wish
For glitt'ring sceptres and a throne;
Such gaudy wishes I dismiss
To reign in thy dear heart alone.
For glitt'ring sceptres and a throne;
Such gaudy wishes I dismiss
To reign in thy dear heart alone.
Let others to the circle fly,
And flaunt it in the midnight glare;
My world of light's that lucid eye,
I read my proudest triumph there."
And flaunt it in the midnight glare;
My world of light's that lucid eye,
I read my proudest triumph there."
And could such softness veil deceit?
And could she wrong so true a lover?
And could the smile that beam'd so sweet,
Be but a false and faithless rover?
​And could she wrong so true a lover?
And could the smile that beam'd so sweet,
Be but a false and faithless rover?
Where wilt thou meet so fond a breast;
Where rule with such despotic pow'r;
Who now will lull thy cares to rest,
And gently watch thy slumb'ring hour?
Where rule with such despotic pow'r;
Who now will lull thy cares to rest,
And gently watch thy slumb'ring hour?
God! how I lov'd thy mad'ning form,
And drank thy gay seducing talk;
How did I brave misfortune's storm,
With thee, thou Wretch! thro' life to walk!
And drank thy gay seducing talk;
How did I brave misfortune's storm,
With thee, thou Wretch! thro' life to walk!
Enough! Oh Mem'ry spare the rest!
Tell me no more of joys how fleeting;
Oh! let this void delirious breast
For ever, ever cease its beating.
Tell me no more of joys how fleeting;
Oh! let this void delirious breast
For ever, ever cease its beating.