She with extended arms his aid implores, But strives in vain: borne by the outrageous flood To distance down, he rides the ridgy wave, Or whelm'd beneath the boiling eddy sinks. These are the charming agonies of love, Whose misery delights. But through the heart Should jealousy its venom once diffuse, 'Tis then delightful misery no more, But agony unmix'd, incessant gall, Corroding every thought, and blasting all Love's paradise. Ye fairy prospects, then, Ye beds of roses, and ye bowers of joy, Farewell. Ye gleamings of departed peace, Shine out your last! the yellow-tinging plague Internal vision taints, and in a night Of livid gloom imagination wraps. Ah! then, instead of love-enliven'd cheeks, Of sunny features, and of ardent eyes With flowing rapture bright, dark looks succeed, Suffus'd and glaring with untender fire; A clouded aspect, and a burning cheek, Where the whole poison'd soul malignant sits, And frightens love away. Ten thousand fears Invented wild, ten thousand frantic views Of horrid rivals, hanging on the charms For which he melts in fondness, eat him up With fervent anguish, and consuming rage. In vain reproaches lend their idle aid, Deceitful pride, and resolution frail, Giving false peace a moment. Fancy pours, Afresh, her beauties on his busy thought; Her first endearments, twining round the soul With all the witchcraft of ensnaring love. Straight the fierce storm involves his mind anew; Flames through the nerves, and boils along the veins; While anxious doubt distracts the tortur'd heart: For even the sad assurance of his fears Were peace to what he feels. Thus the warm youth, Whom love deludes into his thorny wilds, Through flowery-tempting paths, or leads a life Of fever'd rapture, or of cruel care; His brightest aims extinguish'd all, and all His lively moments running down to waste. [Illustration: On the bank thrown amid drooping lilies] [Illustration: In soft anguish he consumes the day] [Illustration: Woos the bird of eve to mingle woes] [Illustration: Still interrupted by distracted dreams]