THEAPE

theape

(1806)

anapeisbutatrivialbeast,

mencountitlightandvain;

butiwouldletthemhavetheirthoughts,

tohavemyapeagain.

toloveabeastinanysort,

isnogreatsignofgrace;

butihavelovedafloutingape's

'boveanylady'sface.

ihaveknownthepoweroftwofaireyes,

insmile,orelseinglance,

andhow(forialoverwas)

theymakethespiritsdance;

butiwouldgivetwohundredsmiles,

ofthemthatfairestbe,

foronelookofmystaringape,

thatusedtostareonme.

thisbeast,thisape,ithadaface—

iffaceitmightbestyl'd—

sometimesitwasastaringape,

sometimesabeauteouschild—

anegroflat—apagodsquat,

castinachinesemold—

andthenitwasacherub'sface,

madeofthebeatengold!

buttime,that'smeddling,meddlingstill

andalwaysalteringthings—

and,what'salreadyatthebest,

toalterationbrings—

thatturnsthesweetestbudstoflowers,

andchopsandchangestoys—

thatbreaksupdreams,andpartsoldfriends,

andstillcommutesourjoys—

haschangedawaymyapeatlast

andinitsplaceconvey'd,

thinkingtherewithtocheatmysight,

afreshandbloomingmaid!

andfairtosightisshe—andstill

eachdaydothsightliergrow,

upontheruinsoftheape,

myancientplay-fellow!

thetaleofsphinx,andthebanjests,

itrueinmeperceive;

isufferriddles;deathfromdark

enigmasireceive:

whilstahidbeingipursue,

thatlurksinanewshape,

mydarlinginherselfimiss—

and,inmyape,theape.