| A NARRATIVE OF SOME REMARKABLE INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF SOLOMON BAYLELY, FORMERLY A SLAVE, IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE, NORTH AMERICA; WRITTEN BY HIMSELF, AND PUBLISHED FOR HIS BENEFIT, c. 1700s. |
"On the silence of a young lady, on account of the imaginary flight of her suitor" |
| Oh, heartless dove mount in the skies, |
| Spread thy soft wing upon the gale, |
| Or on thy sacred pinions rise, |
| Nor brood with silence in the vale. |
| Breathe on the air thy plaintive note, |
| Which oft has filled the lonesome grove, |
| And let they melting ditty float - |
| The dirge of long lamented love. |
| Coo softly to the silent ear, |
| And make the floods of grief o’ roll; |
| And cause by love the sleeping tear, |
| To wake the sorrow from the soul.. |
| It is the loss of pleasure past |
| Which makes thee droop thy sounding wing? |
| Does winter’s rough, inclement blast |
| Forbid the tragic voice to sing? |
| Is it because the fragrant breeze |
| Along the sky forbears to flow- |
| Nor whispers low amidst the trees, |
| Whilst all the vallies frown below? |
| Why should a frown thy soul alarm, |
| And tear thy pleasure from thy breast: |
| Or veil the smiles of every charm, |
| And rob thee of thy peaceful rest. |
| Perhaps thy sleeping love may wake, |
| And hear a penitential tone; |
| And suffer not thy heart to break, |
| Nor let a princess grieve alone. |
| Perhaps his pity may return, |
| With equal feeling from the heart, |
| And breast with breast together burn, |
| Never, no never more to part. |
| Never, till death’s resistless blow, |
| Whose call the dearest must obey- |
| In twain together then may go, |
| And thus together dwell for aye. |
| Say to the suitor, Come away, |
| Nor break the knot which love has tied |
| Nor to the worldly trust betray |
| And fly forever from thy bride. |