FROM DELIA TO ALONZO. Janet Little (later Richmond) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T126549 Little, Janet, 1759-1813. The Poetical Works of Janet Little, the Scotch Milkmaid. Air Printed by John & Peter Wilson 1792 pp. [186]-[187].

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FROM DELIA TO ALONZO . WHEN Adam was in spacious Eden plac'd , Where rural sweets luxuriant did abound , All that could charm the eye or please the taste , In this blest scene of happiness was found . O'er wide creation , he an empire sway'd : The creatures all with whom the world was stor'd , His sov'reign mandates with delight obey'd , And own'd him as their universal lord . What would he more , to render bless complete ? You say he lack'd the sweets of social life , Until fair Eve , with charms divinely sweet , Became his friend , his partner , and his wife But think , fond youth , how transient was the bliss , Scarce had he felt the joys of mutual love , Scarce had he once receiv'd th' ambrosial kiss , When ah ! his darling did his ruin prove ! Did she , who was adorn'd with ev'ry grace , Prove fatal to the father of mankind ? Who of her daughters , a degen'rate race , Can boast more art the tranquil hours to bind ? To sue for better , sir , would be in vain : None ever yet did mother Eve excel . Be warn'd by Adam ; shun the glitt'ring train , Lest some fond nymph your pleasures all expel . A single life we find replete with joys , The matrimonial chain I ever dread , A state of celibacy is my choice ; Therefore Alonzo never can succeed .