Eighteenth-Century Audio

Source: UMW. Download Title

Cou’d we stop the time that’s flying
Or recall itt when ’tis past
Put far off the day of Dying
Or make Youth for ever last
To Love wou’d then be worth our cost.

But since we must loose those Graces
Which at first your hearts have wonne
And you seek for in new Faces
When our Spring of Life is done
It wou’d but urdge our ruine on

Free as Nature’s first intention
Was to make us, I’ll be found
Nor by subtle Man’s invention
Yeild to be in Fetters bound
By one that walks a freer round.

Mariage does but slightly tye Men
Whil’st close Pris’ners we remain
They the larger Slaves of Hymen
Still are begging Love again
At the full length of all their chain.

Source: UMW. Download Title

I FEED a flame within, which so torments me
That it both pains my heart, and yet contents me:
‘Tis such a pleasing smart, and I so love it,
That I had rather die than once remove it.

Yet he, for whom I grieve, shall never know it;
My tongue does not betray, nor my eyes show it.
Not a sigh, nor a tear, my pain discloses,
But they fall silently, like dew on roses.

Thus, to prevent my Love from being cruel,
My heart ’s the sacrifice, as ’tis the fuel;
And while I suffer this to give him quiet,
My faith rewards my love, though he deny it.

On his eyes will I gaze, and there delight me;
While I conceal my love no frown can fright me.
To be more happy I dare not aspire,
Nor can I fall more low, mounting no higher.

Source: UMW. Download Title

Gentlest air, thou breath of lovers,
Vapours from a secret fire,
Which by thee itself discovers,
Ere yet daring to aspire.
Softest note of whispered anguish,
Harmony’s refin’dest part,
Striking, while thou seem’st to languish,
Full upon the listener’s heart.
Safest messenger of passion,
Stealing through a crowd of spies,
Which constrain the outward fashion,
Close the lips and guard the eyes.
Shapeless sigh! we ne’er can show thee,
Formed but to assault the ear;
Yet, ere to their cost they know thee,
Every nymph may read thee here.

1) Read by Sarah Trimble. Source: UMW. Download Title

2) Read by Roberta Giardi. Source: UMW. Download Title

3) Read by Clarica. Source: LibriVox. Download Title

To a Lady asking him how long he would love her
It is not, Celia, in our power
To say how long our love will last;
It may be we within this hour
May lose those joys we now do taste:
The blessed, that immortal be,
From change in love are only free.

Then, since we mortal lovers are,
Ask not how long our love will last;
But while it does, let us take care
Each minute be with pleasure past.
Were it not madness to deny
To live, because w’are sure to die?

Source: UMW. Download Title

Forbear, bold youth; all ’s heaven here,
And what you do aver
To others courtship may appear,
‘Tis sacrilege to her.
She is a public deity;
And were ‘t not very odd
She should dispose herself to be
A petty household god?

First make the sun in private shine
And bid the world adieu,
That so he may his beams confine
In compliment to you:
But if of that you do despair,
Think how you did amiss
To strive to fix her beams which are
More bright and large than his.

Source: UMW.
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Vital spark of heav’nly flame,
Quit, oh, quit, this mortal frame!
Trembling, hoping, ling’ring, flying,
Oh, the pain, the bliss of dying!
Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife,
And let me languish into life!

Hark! they whisper; Angels say,
Sister Spirit, come away.
What is this absorbs me quite,
Steals my senses, shuts my sight,
Drowns my spirits, draws my breath?
Tell me, my Soul! can this be Death?

The world recedes; it disappears;
Heav’n opens on my eyes; my ears
With sounds seraphic ring:
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O Grave! where is thy Victory?
O Death! where is thy Sting?

Source: UMW. Download Title

Source: UMW.Download Title