THE PRODIGAL GOING.
What! live for ever buried thus,
Thus all the Hope of Youth destroy—
Here the poor Business to discuss
Of a poor Farm! a Slave’s Employ!
For ever to be held a Boy
And leave to live of Man implore—
No! let me Life’s delights enjoy,
And be a Man, or be no more
A Wretch to wail in Woe!
My Spirit prompts, my Heart desires, 10
My Will consents, my Youth requires
And I will go—
Will go where happy beings dwell,
Unchain’d, unawed, and uncontrolled;
Where no harsh, rigid Minds repell,
With Tempers stern and Bosoms cold,
The Light, the Gay, the Warm, the Bold,
But Love meets Love, Desire Success;
Where none are frigid Maxims told;
Th’ aspiring Spirit to depress 20
By Prudence, Pleasure’s Foe;
And Mary too, capricious Maid,
With Smiles alone invites my stay;
But Timid, cautious, cold, afraid,
For more than Smiles I vainly pray.
Fond, Teizing, trilling Love, away!
No longer will I sigh and whine;
No longer doat from day to day;
Henceforth the genuine Love be mine,
That spurns and dreads Delay! 30
’Tis Nature’s strong, prevailing Call
That pleads within, that pleads with all,
That I obey!
So thought the Youth who from his home retired, }
Because it gave not all his Soul required; }
For strong his Passions were, and quickly were they fired. }
Affection reasoned; but the Youth replied
To reasoning Love, “I will not be denied!”