An
ODE
,
IN
IMITATION
of
SAPHO
.
I.
ME
the
loveliest
truest
Swain
,
Often
woo's
,
but
woo's
in
vain
;
Tender
,
soft
,
beseeching
Eyes
,
Pleading
Tears
,
and
melting
Sighs
:
Such
soft
Pains
as
Lovers
feel
,
Such
his
dying
Looks
reveal
.
II
.
Yet
by
Pride
,
by
Shame
with-held
,
Every
yielding
Thought's
repell'd
:
Scarce
the
Sigh
that
heaves
my
Breast
,
Scarce
the
falling
Tear's
represt
:
Yet
may
artful
Tongue
denies
My
Love
,
and
contradicts
my
Eyes
.
III
.
If
then
,
charming
Youth
,
you'd
know
All
my
Love
,
and
all
my
Woe
;
All
my
Heart
,
without
Disguise
,
Read
it
in
my
artless
Eyes
.
They'll
in
tender
Language
tell
What
I
wou'd
in
vain
conceal
.
IV
.
There
each
yielding
Thought
betray'd
,
All
my
Hopes
and
Fears
display'd
:
The
soft
Flame
which
warms
my
Breast
,
In
each
melting
Look's
confest
:
While
unstudied
Glances
prove
,
All
is
Truth
,
and
all
is
Love
.