Poems upon Several Occasions/19

by George Granville

For other versions of this work, see To Myra ("When wilt thou break, my stubborn Heart?").

To MYRA.

I.

WHEN wilt thou break, my stubborn Heart?

O Death, how slow to take my part!
Whatever I pursue, denies,
Death, Death it self, like Myra flies.

II.

Love and Despair, like Twins, possest

At the same fatal Birth my Breast;
No Hope could be, her Scorn was all
That to my destin'd Lot cou'd fall.

III.

I thought, alas! that Love cou'd dwell

But in warm Climes, where no Snow fell;
Like Plants, that kindly Heat require,
To be maintain'd by constant Fire.

IV.

That without Hope 'twou'd die as soon,

A little Hope———But I have none:
On Air the poor Camelions thrive,
Deny'd even that, my Love can live.

V.

As toughest Trees in Storms are bred,

And grow in spight of Winds, and spread;
The more the Tempest tears and shakes
My Love, the deeper Root it takes.

VI.

Despair, that Aconite does prove,

And certain Death to other's Love,
That Poison, never yet withstood,
Does nourish mine, and turns to Food.

VII.

O! for what Crime is my torn Heart

Condemn'd to suffer deathless Smart?
Like sad Prometheus, thus to lye
In endless Pain, and never dye.