Explore "Frank Leigh's Song" by Charles Kingsley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Ah tyrant Love, Megaera's serpents bearing, / Why thus requite my sighs with venom'd smart? / Ah ruthless dove, the vulture's talons wearing, / Why flesh them, traitress, in this faithful heart? / Is this my meed? Must dragons' teeth alone / In Venus' lawns by lovers' hands be sown?
Nay, gentlest Cupid; 'twas my pride undid me; / Nay, guiltless dove; by mine own wound I fell.
To worship, not to wed, Celestials bid me: / I dreamt to mate in heaven, and wake in hell; / For ever doom'd, Ixion-like, to reel / On mine own passions' ever-burning wheel.
Devonshire, 1854.
From Westward Ho!