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FARE 1 thee well, inconstant lover! | |
If thy fickle flame was love; | |
Though our transient joys are over, | |
I can neer inconstant prove. | |
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Man may boast a deathless passion, | 5 |
Swear his love shall neer decline; | |
Yet, unfixd as changing fashion, | |
Womans fate may change like mine! | |
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Once I thought I might believe thee; | |
Might on Byrons oath rely; | 10 |
But my arms do scarce receive thee | |
Ere thy oaths, unheeded, die. | |
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From paternal arms you took me, | |
Stole me from a mothers care; | |
Then in wantonness forsook me | 15 |
For a less admiring fair. | |
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Prayers and tears were unavailing, | |
Nought thy purpose could beguile; | |
Not a wife, her woes bewailing, | |
Nor a lovely infants smile. | 20 |
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Heaven had formd thee for unkindness, | |
Steeld thy soul to all that s mild; | |
Dimmd thy moral sight with blindness, | |
Left thee Natures wayward child. | |
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Stay! I must notcannot chide thee; | 25 |
What thou hast not, who can blame? | |
Virtue is what heaven denied thee, | |
And the world has done the same. | |
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Think not I can eer forget thee; | |
No, thy griefs will all be mine; | 30 |
I shall weep when foes beset thee, | |
Smile when fortunes sun shall shine. | |
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Must Ican Ishall a mother | |
Hate the father of her child? | |
Gracious Heaven! my anguish smother, | 35 |
At that name, my infant smiled! | |
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Smiled to think she had a father | |
To protect her growing years; | |
Unsuspecting orphan, rather | |
Drown thine eye in floods of tears! | 40 |
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Father, now, sweet babe, thou hast not; | |
All his care you must forego; | |
Other woes thy peace may blast not, | |
Yet thou hast this keenest wo! | |
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Orphan babe! my care shall ever | 45 |
Guard thee from the ills of life; | |
Death alone hath power to sever | |
Byrons babe and constant wife! | |