CONSTANTIA

Sick of the world, in prime of days

Constantia took a serious fit —

Resolved to shun all balls and plays

And only read what saints had writ —

To Convent Hall she would repair

And be a pensive sister there.

“What are they all — this glare of things,

These insects that around me shine;

These beaux and belles on silken wings —

Indeed their pleasures make not mine —

My happiness is all delayed —

I'll go, and find it in the shade.”

A sailor, loitering from his crew,

As chance would have it, passed along —

She told him what she had in view,

And he replied — “Fair maid you're wrong,

“Let faded nymphs to cloisters go,

“Where kisses freeze and love is snow.

“The druids’ oak and hermits’ pine

“Afford a gloomy, sad delight;

“But why that blush of health resign,

“The mingled tint of red and white?

“In moistening cells the flowers expire

“That, on the plain, all eyes admire.

“With such a pensive, pious train

“Who, but a hermit, could agree —

“Ah, rather stay to grace the plain,

“Or wander on the wave with me:

“For you the painted barque shall wait

“And I would die for such a freight.”

“No wandering stranger ( she replied )

“Can tempt me to forego my plan;

“No barque that wafts him o'er the tide,

“Nor many a better looking man:

“Go, wanderer, plough your gloomy sea,

“Constantia must a sister be.

“To gain so fair a flower as you,

“( The Tar returned ) who would not plead?

“Nor shall you, nymph, to convents go

“While love can write what you must read:

“Come, to yon’ meadow let us stray,

“I have some handsome things to say.”

“Love has its wish when reason fails —

“In vain he sighed, in vain he strove:

“Forsake ( said she ) those swelling sails

“If you would have me — think of love:

“Great merit has your sailing art,

“But absence would distract my heart.”

What else was said, we secret keep;—

The Tar, grown fonder of the shore,

Neglects his prospects on the deep,

And she of convents talks no more:—

He slyly quits the coasting trade

She pities her — who seeks the shade.