Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Mark Akenside. 1721–1770462. The Complaint
| AWAY! away! | |
| Tempt me no more, insidious Love: | |
| Thy soothing sway | |
| Long did my youthful bosom prove: | |
| At length thy treason is discern’d, | 5 |
| At length some dear-bought caution earn’d: | |
| Away! nor hope my riper age to move. | |
| I know, I see | |
| Her merit. Needs it now be shown, | |
| Alas! to me? | 10 |
| How often, to myself unknown, | |
| The graceful, gentle, virtuous maid | |
| Have I admired! How often said— | |
| What joy to call a heart like hers one’s own! | |
| But, flattering god, | 15 |
| O squanderer of content and ease | |
| In thy abode | |
| Will care’s rude lesson learn to please? | |
| O say, deceiver, hast thou won | |
| Proud Fortune to attend thy throne, | 20 |
| Or placed thy friends above her stern decrees? |