The Captive

Long I had laught at the vain name of Love,
Too weak to charm me, and too dull to move;
It ne're cou'd make a Conquest of my heart,
Freedom and that were one, and were too fond to part;
Freedom, without whose aid ev'n Life wou'd tire,
And, e're it reach't th' allotted Goal, expire:
But ah! too soon I found that Blessing gone,
Whose Loss, I fear, I must for ever mone
I saw her and no more, one pointed view
Softn'd my flinty Breast, and pierc't it through and through.
O who can love's resistless Darts, controul,
That, through our Eyes, so soon can reach the Soul!
Yet Liberty, I'll not thy Loss deplore;
I lov'd my Freedom well, but love this Slav'ry more:
For though stern Caelia's Captive I remain,
And stoop my Neck to Love's Imperial Chain,
There's a strange nameless Joy incorporate with the pain.