An Old Man to a Young Girl

I saw the arrow quit the bow
To lay thy soaring spirits low,
And warn'd thee long ere now;
For this thou shunnest me, for this
No more the leap to catch the kiss
Upon thy calm clear brow.
I pitied thee, well knowing why
The broken song, the book thrown by,
And Fido's foot put down,
Who looks so sorrowing all the while,
To hear no name, to hope no smile,
To fear almost a frown.
Lovers who see thy drooping head
In lover's phrase have often said,
" The lily drives the rose
In shame away from that sweet face,
Yet shall she soon regain her place
And fresher bloom disclose."
Show them, show one above the rest,
A lily's petals idly prest
Are firm as they are pure;
Those which but once have given way
Stand up erect no second day,
No gentlest touch endure.