Love

The Lover's Second Thoughts on World Weariness

by Charles Mackay, LL.D. born 1814; living 1855–57

From The Modern Scottish Minstrel, vol. 6 (1855–57)

Love

Heart! take courage! 'tis not worthy
For a woman's scorn to pine,
If her cold indifference wound thee,
There are remedies around thee
For such malady as thine.
Be no longer weary, weary,
From thy love-lit summits hurl'd;
Be no longer weary, weary,
Weary, weary of the world!

If thou must be loved by woman,
Seek again--the world is wide;
It is full of loving creatures,
Fair in form, and mind, and features--
Choose among them for thy bride.
Be no longer weary, weary,
To and fro by passion whirl'd;
Be no longer weary, weary,
Weary, weary of the world!

Or if Love should lose thy favour,
Try the paths of honest fame,
Climb Parnassus' summit hoary,
Carve thy way by deeds of glory,
Write on History's page thy name.
Be no longer weary, weary,
To the depth of sorrow hurl'd;
Be no longer weary, weary,
Weary, weary of the world!

Or if these shall fail to move thee,
Be the phantoms unpursued,
Try a charm that will not fail thee
When old age and grief assail thee--
Try the charm of doing good.
Be no longer weak and weary,
By the storms of passion whirl'd;
Be no longer weary, weary,
Weary, weary of the world!

Love is fleeting and uncertain,
And can bate where it adored,
Chase of glory wears the spirit,
Fame not always follows merit,
Goodness is its own reward.
Be no longer weary, weary,
From thine happy summit hurl'd;
Be no longer weary, weary,
Weary, weary of the world!

MLA

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “The Lover's Second Thoughts on World Weariness.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/1/.

Chicago

Mackay, Charles, LL.D. “The Lover's Second Thoughts on World Weariness.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/mackay_c/1/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Charles Mackay, LL.D.