Songs Set To Music: 9. Set By Mr. De Fesch
By Matthew Prior
Is it, O love, thy want of eyes,
Or by the Fates decreed,
That hearts so seldom sympathise,
Or for each other bleed?
If thou wouldst make two youthful hearts
One amorous shaft obey,
'Twould save thee the expense of darts,
And more extend thy sway.
Forbear, alas! thus to destroy
Thyself, thy growing power,
For that which would be stretch'd by joy
Despair will soon devour.
Ah! wound then my relentless fair,
For thy own sake and mine,
That boundless may be my share,
And double glory thine.