Poems (Eliza Gabriella Lewis)/Song (Ah! Wisdom may speak from his bright open page)
For works with similar titles, see Song.
SONG.
Ah! Wisdom may speak from his bright open page,
And look on young beauty with visage so sage,
But when Folly's sweet bells in the distance are heard,
Believe, for I swear it, she'll not hear a word.
And look on young beauty with visage so sage,
But when Folly's sweet bells in the distance are heard,
Believe, for I swear it, she'll not hear a word.
Wisdom speaks like a judge, and his speeches are sound;
His words are well chosen, his periods round;
But when Folly, in rhyme, tells a maiden she's fair,
Old Wisdom may grumble his words to the air.
His words are well chosen, his periods round;
But when Folly, in rhyme, tells a maiden she's fair,
Old Wisdom may grumble his words to the air.
Then say not that verse hath a rapid decline,
While live gentle women—while flows the rich wine;
I'll woo in a song the sweet girl of my soul,
And the burden shall be—raise the ruby-tinged bowl.
While live gentle women—while flows the rich wine;
I'll woo in a song the sweet girl of my soul,
And the burden shall be—raise the ruby-tinged bowl.