Elegy V Poem by James Hammond

With Wine more Wine deceive thy Master's Care,
Till creeping Slumber sooth his troubled Breast,
Let not a Whisper stir the silent Air,
If hapless Love a while consent to rest.


Untoward Guards beset my Cynthia's Doors,
And cruel Locks th' imprison'd Fair conceal,
May Lightnings blast whom Love in vain implores,
And Jove's own Thunder rive those Bolts of Steel.


Ah gentle Door attend my humble Call,
Nor let thy founding Hinge our Thefts betray,
So all my Curses far from thee shall fall,
We angry Lovers mean not half we say.


Remember now the flowry Wreaths I gave,
When first I told thee of my bold Desires,
Nor thou, O Cynthia, fear the watchful Slave,
Venus will favour what herself inspires.


She guides the Youth who see not where they tread,
She shews the Virgin how to turn the Door,
Softly to steal from off her silent Bed,
And not a Step betray her on the Floor.


The fearless Lover wants no Beam of Light,
The Robber knows him, nor obstructs his Way,
Sacred he wanders through the pathless Night,
Belongs to Venus, and can never stray.


I scorn the chilling Wind, and beating Rain,
Nor heed cold Watchings on the dewy Ground,
If all the Hardships I for Love sustain,
With Love's victorious Joys at last be crown'd:


With sudden Step let none our Bliss surprise,
Or check the Freedom of secure Delight-
Rash Man beware and shut thy curious Eyes,
Lest angry Venus snatch their guilty Sight:


But shou'dst thou see, th' important Secret hide,
Tho' question'd by the Powers of Earth and Heav'n,
The prating Tongue shall Love's Revenge abide,
Still sue for Grace, and never be forgiv'n.


A Wizard-Dame, thy Lover's ancient Friend,
With magic Charm has deaft thy Husband's Ear,
At her Command I saw the Stars descend,
And winged Lightnings stop in mid Career.


I saw her stamp, and cleave the solid Ground,
While ghastly Spectres round us wildly roam,
I saw them hearken to her potent sound,
Till scar'd at Day they sought their dreary Home.


At her Command the vigorous Summer pines,
And wintry Clouds obscure the hopeful Year,
At her strong bidding gloomy Winter shines,
And vernal Roses on the Snows appear.


She gave these Charms, which I on thee bestow,
They dim the Eye, and dull the jealous Mind,
For me they make a Husband nothing know,
For me, and only me, they make him blind:


But what did most this faithful Heart surprise,
She boasted that her Skill cou'd set it free;
This faithful Heart the boasted Freedom flies,
How cou'd it venture to abandon thee?