Love in a Boat

’Tis a calm and silent even,
Luna rests upon the sea;
See! the impelling breeze has driven,
Driven a little bark to me.

What a lovely child is seated
At the helm--a trembling child!
‘Thou wilt perish, boy ill-fated!
Whelm’d among the surges wild.’

‘Help me! help me! gentle stranger!
All my strength, alas! is gone:
Take the helm--conduct the ranger
To some harbour of thy own.’

Pity’s warmth, that never freezes,
Bid me seize the helm:--we sped,
Wafted by awakening breezes,
As by feather’d arrows led.

Swiftly, swiftly then we glided
By the flowery shores along;
Reach’d a spot where joy presided,
Smiling nymphs, and dance and song.

Music welcomed us and laughter,
Garlands at our feet were thrown;
Then I look’d my wanderer after--
I was left--the bark was gone.

On the stormy shore I laid me,
Careless of the surge’s spray;
Sought the child who had betray’d me,
Saw him laugh--and row away.

Lo! he beckons--lo! he urges--
Through the noisy waves I fly:
Off he speeds across the surges,
Laughing out with louder joy.

Wet and weary, I retreated
To the scene of revelry:--
’Twas a fairy dream that cheated--
All was blank obscurity.

Wanderer! if that boat should ever
Meet thy vision, O be coy!
’Tis delusive--trust him never--
Cupid is a wicked boy.