From that Balcon’ I often took delight To see you pass, and languish’d for the Sight. ’Twas there that fatal Day I chanc’d to be When first my Heart resign’d its Liberty: ’Twas there I drew the Poison from your Eyes, ’Twas there this raging Passion had its rise. Methought on me alone you seem’d to gaze, And careless look’d on every other Face; And when you stopt, I fondly thought to me ’Twas meant that I your lovely Shape might see. I call to mind what Trembling seiz’d my Breast, Caus’d by a Leap given by your prancing Beast. I near concern’d in all your Actions was, Flatter’d my self I was of some the cause. What follow’d, to relate I ’ll now forbear, Lest you appear more cruel than you are; And ’twill perhaps your Vanity encrease To find my Labours have no more Success. Fool as I am! to think to move you more By Threats than all my Love cou’d do before! Too well (alas!) I know my Fate to come, And you ’re too too unjust to make me doubt my Doom. Since I am not allow’d your Love to share, All ills in Nature I have cause to fear. I shou’d be pleas’d did all our Sex admire Your Charms, if you did not return the Fire; But there ’s no fear, I by Experience know None ever long will be ador’d by you. You ’ll easily enough forget my Charms Without the taking others to your Arms. By Heav’ns, I love, I doat to that degree, That since I find you ’re ever lost to me, I wish you ’ad some Excuse to hide your Crime, That to the World you might less guilty seem. ’Tis true, ’twould make my Case but so much worse, But then ’twould advantageous be to yours.---- While you are free, in France, perhaps the fear Of not returning Love for Love may keep you there. But mind not that, if you I sometimes see, } I shall contented with my Fortune be, } To know one country holds my Love and me. } Why with vain Hopes do I my Reason blind? To one less doting you may prove more kind. Pride in another may a Conquest gain Greater than mine, with all the endless Pain Of constant Love, which I ’ve endur’d for you: But, oh! from me take Warning what you do; Retract your Heart ere yet (it) is too late, And think upon my too too wretched Fate, Reflect upon my endless Miseries, Despairs, Distractions, and my Jealousies; Think on the Trust that I ’ve repos’d in you, Th’ Extravagance which all my Letters shew.