| Alexander Pope (1688–1744). Complete Poetical Works. 1903. | | | | Poems: 1718–27 | | To Mr. Gay |
| | Who Had Congratulated Pope on Finishing His House and Gardens
Written early in 1722 |
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AH, friend! ’t is true—this truth you lovers know— | |
| In vain my structures rise, my gardens grow, | |
| In vain fair Thames reflects the double scenes | |
| Of hanging mountains, and of sloping greens; | |
| Joy lives not here, to happier seats it flies, | 5 |
| And only dwells where Wortley casts her eyes. | |
| What are the gay Parterre, the chequer’d Shade, | |
| The morning Bower, the ev’ning Colonnade, | |
| But soft recesses of uneasy minds, | |
| To sigh unheard in to the passing winds? | 10 |
| So the struck deer in some sequester’d part | |
| Lies down to die, the arrow at his heart; | |
| He stretch’d unseen in coverts hid from day, | |
| Bleeds drop by drop, and pants his life away. | | | |
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