Poem by George Crabbe

A Song

[September, 1772.]

I.

As Chloe fair, a new-made bride,
   Sat knotting in an arbour,
To Colin now the damsel ty'd,
   No strange affection harbour.

II.

"How poor," says [she, "'s a] single life,
   A maid's affected carriage;
Spent in sighs and inward strife,
   Things unknown in marriage.

III.

"Virgins vainly say they're free,
   None so much confin'd are;
Lovers kind and good may be,
   Husbands may be kinder.

IV.

"Then shun not wedlock's happy chain,
   Nor wantonly still fly man;
A single life is care and pain,
   Blessings wait on Hymen."

   G. EBBARE.

1. Belvoir Castle
2. Concluding Lines of Prize Poem on Hope
3. Lines Written at Warwick
4. Despair
5. Cupid

Helen Williams A Song ("No riches from his scanty store")

Print

1218 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version