The Lady's Looking-Glass

CELIA and I the other day
Walk'd o'er the sand-hills to the sea :
The setting sun adorn'd the coast,
His beams entire, his fierceness lost :
And on the surface of the deep,
The winds lay only not asleep :
The nymph did like the scene appear,
Serenely pleasant, calmly fair :
Soft fell her words, as flew the air.
With secret joy I heard her say,
That she would never miss one day
A walk so fine, a sight so gay.
But, oh the change ! the winds grow high ;
Impending tempests charge the sky ;
The lightning flies ; the thunder roars ;
And big waves lash the frighten'd shores.
Struck with the horror of the sight,
She turns her head, and wings her flight ;
And trembling vows, she'll ne'er again
Approach the shore, or view the main.
Once more at least look back, said I ;
Thyself in that large glass descry :
When thou art in good humour drest ;
When gentle reason rules thy breast ;
The sun upon the calmest sea
Appears not half so bright as thee :
'Tis then, that with delight I rove
Upon the boundless depth of love ;
I bless my chain ; I hand my oar ;
Nor think on all I left on shore.
But when vain doubt, and groundless fear
Do that dear foolish bosom tear ;
When the big lip, and wat'ry eye
Tell me, the rising storm is nigh :
'Tis then, thou art yon angry main,
Deform'd by winds, and dash'd by rain ;
And the poor sailor, that must try
Its fury, labours less than I.
Shipwreck'd, in vain to land I make ;
While Love and Fate still drive me back :
Forc'd to dote on thee thy own way,
I chide thee first, and then obey.
Wretched when from thee, vex'd when nigh,
I with thee, or without thee, die.