For me, whose lonely wretched doom By heaven has been decreed To bear fate’s cruelty and gloom, Wherever it may lead. But not on thee, so lovely born, Form’d of a power divine, To hold ev’n fate a subject sworn To every will of thine. Whilst thou my absence mayst lament, Thy comfort mayst descry, By fate a thousand lovers sent More to thy choice than I. Some one she pleases me above To favour chance may show; But one to love thee as I love, That none can ever know. ’Twas not thy graces won my heart, Nor yet thy faultless face; But ’twas some sympathy apart I might from birth retrace. I long a picture loved to draw Of charms I fancied true, And thy perfections when I saw, The original I knew. No traveller upon the ground By sudden lightning thrown, The blow could more at once confound, Left helpless and alone, Than I to see that beauteous brow, In hapless love was lost; At thy feet forced at once to bow, To adore whate’er the cost. But I depart, alas! the pain No words can e’er express; Heaven only knows it that can scan The inmost heart’s recess; And saw the hours of deep delight, So full now long pass’d by, That all my wishes’ utmost height Heap’d up could satisfy. Now while the breezes fair avail, The waves are gently stirr’d, And of the mariners the hail Confused afar is heard: Now from the deep’s tenacious hold The anchor’s fangs they heave, And all conspiring are enroll’d Me swifter death to give. Now with a vacillating foot The slender boat I tread, Soon destined from the bank to shoot, As to the great bark sped. Sylvia, in this sad moment’s pause, O! what a mournful crowd Of thoughts around thy lover close, To assault him and o’ercloud! The sweet requital in return Thou givest my love I know; And kind remembrances discern All thy affections show; Whilst here each proof assures me well That naught thy heart can move; But in my absence, who can tell If thou wilt faithful prove? For those divine attractions whence Now all my joys arise, Perhaps may fate the cause dispense Of all my miseries; And whilst I absent and forlorn My pledges lost deplore, Some rival gains of me in scorn The enchantments I adore! But no, my bliss, my glory! ne’er Were given the winds in vain Those vows, which envied me to share The universe my gain. Let us time’s tyranny defy, And distance, constant thus Remaining in that changeless tie, That then united us.