Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Charms of melody, or, Siren medley

33S
THE CHARMS OF MELODY.
Mifs Polly Roe of Gal way.
AH [whence this impotence of mind ?
Sure beauty, properly defin d,
To learning is a foe :
My Swifts and Hopes negletfled lie,
Nor can Bf. linda now fupply
The place of Polly Roe.
Young Pegg, with pendants, patches, puns,
And eyes more fparkling than the fijn's,
• Made ev'ry bolom- glow :
Siich nymphs I prz'd for borrow'd charms.
But felt the force of nature's arms
From none bat Polly Roe.
What makes me flitm that ftudious lafs,
. Whofe hand's employ'd before the glafs.
Love's gentle fires to blow ?
For fuch vain things why fhould I grieve,
When all the grace of naked Evf,
Appears in Polly Roe ?
What pains the cautious lover takes,
Who flill purfues, yet feldom fpeaks,
His fair-one's mind to know .'
To find the fecrets of her breaft.
In artlefs characters exprefs'd,
I look on Polly Roe.
On thefmooth bofom of a flream.
When brighten'd by the morning beam,
We fee the ikies below :
Thus on her face, as cryftal clear,
Enlighten'd by her eyes, appear
The thoughts of Polly Roe.
As, from the fun's enliv'ning glance,
A thoufand mingling colours dance
Upon the ihow'ry bow :
Thus glows my face with am'rous dies,'
Whene'er I meet the radiant eyes
Of charming Polly Roe.
Some fine ones, when by mufic fpurr'd.
Gamboling wild, with airs abfurd,
Their uncouth geftures (how :
Well might we thank fuch awkward rakes.
Would they but ape the gentle freaks
Of charming Pouly Roe.
As from a flow'ry plant when fhook
On the green margin of a brook,
Its fweetefl odours flow :
Tims, wak'd by mirth, a thoufand graces,
Unfeen before, affume their places
On charming Polly Roe.
Let thofe, whom coarfer nerves fuffain.
O'er hill and dale, thro' rough and plain,
Purfue the bounding doe :
'Tis mine tochace a flender fair
(LikeDAPHNE crown'd with golden hair,)
The charming Polly Roe.
For ancient lore, fome iludious clowns,
Whofe dreams are penfions, books and gowns.
To foreign climates go :
To me let none propofe this tatk j
No proof of nature's force I afk.
But charming Polly Roe.
Choofe not a full blown nymph for Mare,
Who, fick with more than folftice-heat,
Will pant from top to toe :
If to thy bofom thou canft bring
That beauteous emblem of the fpring.
The charming Polly Roe.
Had nature, now too carelefs grown.
Each year the feeds of beauiy fown.
Sure time would not be flow ;
Since f )urteen fummers could produce
A plant fo fair and fit for ufe.
As cliarming Polly Ro^ !
Such mercy claims her tender age,
Such blifs to melt a flubborn fage,
Her beauty can beftow :
What mortal would — oh ! would not flrain
The links of virtue's golden chain.
For charming Polly Roe ?
Once had I wifh'd, and wifird that fate
Would gram a houfe and lair eflate
Befide the Seine or Po :
Now greater things my fancy fill,
A mofs-grown cottage and a rill,
With charming Polly Roe
Since all our hopes of wealth or fame.
Weeds fed from folly's bubbling fiream,
Death foon or late fliall mow :
Say, love ! why fhould thy Have refufe
To quit his int'reft and his mufe,
For charming Polly Roe ?
Were marriage but a trnnfient thing,
Doom'dal the firft approacii offprino-
To'melt away like fnow ;
What youthful bard would not fufpend
His books, his bottle, and his friend.
For charming Polly Rot ?
Think not, my love ! a grov'ling fire.
Which, fed by nothing but dcrlire,
Long abfence might o'erthrow :
Whate'er thy fate wed, grieve, or die.
My foul fhall dwell upon ihine eye.
My charming Polly Roe .'
In former days, when verfe had charms.
To blefs a beauteous mortal's arms,
The moon dc •■ended low :
Now mine might ancient, fame furpafs.
Could 1 fcduce a brighter lafs.
Her filter Polly Roe.
In towns I ne'er can overcome j
There nymphs, like bees, in cluflers hum
About a rattling beau :
But here, tho' fiiently 1 vieu%
Kind pity falls, like April-dew,
From charming Polly Roe.
Ah! what avails that tender tear ?
Behold ! our friendly'lt ftars appear
Regardlefs of our woe :
DuUnefs ! to f )me fat clown i.4' thine
(So fortune w ills) I muft refign
My charming Polly Roe.
What have I then for all I fung ?
When o'er my heart and tunelefs torque
The nodding weeds fhall grow ;
My abfent foul will be o'erjoy'd,
That once her wit was well employ'd
On charming Poli.y Roe