Love

To a Young Widow

by John Cunningham 1729–1773

From Poems, Chiefly Pastoral (1766)

Love

Let bashful virgins, nicely coy,
Exalted rapture lose,
And timid at untasted joy,
Through fearfulness refuse.

Will you—the pleasing conflict try'd,
Tho' sure to conquer—fly?
In you—the sacred zone unty'd!
'Tis peevish to deny.

But if, my fair, the widow's name
Hold gracious with you still,
The god of Love has form'd a scheme
Obsequious to your will.

Take, take me to thy twining arms,
(Opprest with warm desire;)
Where, conquer'd by such mighty charms,
A monarch might expire.

Thou'lt be a widow every night,
(Thy wond'rous pow'r confest!)
And as I die in dear delight,
My tomb shall be thy breast.

✦ ✦ ✦

Text from the Eighteenth Century Collections Online / ECCO-TCP transcription (TCP K093533), Poems, Chiefly Pastoral (1766).

MLA

Cunningham, John. “To a Young Widow.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cunningham_j/66/.

Chicago

Cunningham, John. “To a Young Widow.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cunningham_j/66/.

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