To CLARISSA. Robert Craggs Nugent, Earl Nugent 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. T131163 K104099.002 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. II. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 230-233. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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To CLARISSA . By the Same . 'TWAS when the friendly shade of night Suspends the busy cares of light , And on the various world bestows Or sprightly joy , or calm repose . With gen'rous wine the glass was crown'd , And mirth , and talk , and toasts went round . Clarissa came to bless the feast , Clarissa dearly welcome guest . Not such she look'd as when by day She blazes in the diamond's ray ; And adding to each gem a grace , Give's India's wealth the second place . But soft reclin'd in careless ease , More pleasing , less intent to please . Loose flow'd her hair in wanton pride , Her robe unbound , her zone unty'd ; Half bare to view her milk-white breast , A slender veil scarce shades the rest : Her eye with sparkling lustre glows , And wit in sweetest accent flows . Now sooth'd the angel's voice I hear , And drink in love at either ear ; Now stung with wilder rapture gaze , While our eyes meet with blended rays ; And kindling in th' infectious flame , I feel what words want pow'r to name . Awaking from the silent trance , Cautious I steal a broken glance ; In clam'rous mirth each pang disguise , And laughter swell with bursting sighs ; For Envy , pallid fiend , was there , And Jealousy with watchful care . Now ends the feast , each guest retires , And with them all my soul desires Clarissa goes . — Ah ! cruel fate ! She goes with her ill-sorted mate : Sullen and slow he moves along , And heavy hums a drowsy song . O ! drowsy may the monster lye , And instant slumbers seal his eye ! So shalt thou , best belov'd , escape The horrors of a legal rape . Or , shou'd the brutish instinct goad , And thou must bear th' unwelcome load ; If struggle , pray'r , pretence be vain , To shun what tyrant-laws ordain ; Ah sparing deal out scanty dues , And keep whate'er thou canst refuse ! Ah ! give no bounding pulse to beat , No cheek to glow with genial heat ! No breast to heave in am'rous play , No limbs to twine , no hands to stray ; But sluggish press the joyless bed , And lye in cold indiff'rence dead : Nor let the blasting spoiler sip . The fragrance of thy balmy lip ! To share with him the lover's part , Were rank adultery of the heart . But if , in chaster love's despite , Warm nature catch the known delight ; While fierce desires tumultuous rise , And rapture melts thy closing eyes ; Ah ! be those joys for me design'd , And let me rush upon thy mind ! To me the burning kiss impart , On me impress the humid dart , For me unlock the nectar'd store , Then sigh , and dream the transport o'er ! Thus with her lov'd idea fraught , Delusive fancy charms my thought ; And joining in the flatt'ring cheat , Willing I hug the dear deceit ; From fiction real bliss receive , And all I fondly wish believe ; Nor envy to a husband's arms , The dull fruition of her charms . But when , regardless of my truth , She smiles on some more favour'd youth ; And while he whispers in her ears , With more than wonted pleasure hears ; My jealous thought his voice supplies , And reads perdition in her eyes . Then torn with envy , love , and hate , I wish her with her wedded mate .