EXCERPT: Martha Milcah Moore's Commonplace Book (Posted by Steve Acquaviva)

“A Letter of Farewell from a Gent. to a young Woman whom he had long paid his Addresses to in vain.—"

“All Passions (as some Casuists opine)

Grow with their like, with their reverse decline—

Ambition, thus, but fans ambitions Fire,

And mild Affections, thro” Contempt, expire—

The Instance follows—she who once cou’d move,

Within my Bosom every Source of Love;

Whose magic Face with Joy or Fear assaild,

My captive Heart, as Smiles or Frowns prevail’d,

The Influence of whose fascinating Eye,

Cou’d bid me hope, despair, even live or die—

Tho’ still all-graceful—now no longer fires,

With jealous Rage, or melts with soft Desires—

For lost their Power—even Beauties still the same,

No more revive the extinguish’d Lovers Flame,

Who now unmov’d, surveys her Hoard of Charms,

Unmov’d, can hear them doom’d to other Arms,

Nor feels one Pang, nor breaths a secret Sigh,

Whether she Hymens social Fetters try,

Or unadmir’d live on to stale Virginity.—

Learn here, coy Nymph! in this reverse of Things!

How short the Empire, which from Beauty springs:

Had but they Breast with mutual Ardour beat,

Love yet had kept his abdicated Seat,

Still had they Charms their wonted Force retain’d,

Still in my Soul unrival’d thou hadst reign’d,

And long e’er this, restrictive nuptial Bands,

As Choice our Hearts, had join’d our plighted Hands,

Unhappy Sex!—Let this Example prove,

How close Indiff’rence follows slighted Love;

Repuls’d, how soon the offended God departs,

And stirs Rebellion in yr. Subjects Hearts,

Unless Complaisance fly to Beauty’s Aid,

And fix the Conquests which her Charms have made.

Adieu, my Fair!–& may a happier Fate

If more deserv’d, yr. future Lovers’ wait;

For me kind Heave some yielding Nymph ordain,

Who tho’ less fair, has less Delight in Pain” (186-87).

Source: Moore, Milcah Martha. Milcah Martha Moore’s Book: A Commonplace Book from Revolutionary America. Ed. Catherine La Courreye Blecki and Karin A. Wulf. University Park, PA: Penn State University Press.