Ye watchful sprites, who make e'en man your care, </br> And sure more gladly hover o'er the fair, </br> Who grave on adamant all changeless things, </br> The smiles of courtiers and the frowns of kings! </br> Say to what softer texture ye impart </br> The quick resolves of woman's trusting heart; </br> Joys of a moment, wishes of an hour, </br> The short eternity of Passion's power, </br> Breathed in vain oaths that pledge with generous zeal </br> E'en more of fondness than they e'er shall feel, </br> Light fleeting vows, that never reach above, </br> And all the guileless changefulness of love! </br> Is summer's leaf the record? Does it last </br> Till withering autumn blot it with his blast? </br> Or, frailer still, to fade ere ocean's ebb,— </br> Graved on some filmy insect's thinnest web, </br> Some day-fly's wing that dies and ne'er has slept: </br> Lives the light vow scarce longer than 'tis kept? </br> Ah, call not perfidy her fickle choice! </br> Ah, find not falsehood in an angel's voice! </br> True to one word, and constant to one aim, </br> Let man's hard soul be stubborn as his frame; </br> But leave sweet woman's form and mind at will </br> To bend and vary and be graceful still.
Thomas Brown FRSE (9 January 1778 – 2 April 1820) was a Scottish physician, philosopher, and poet. Renowned as a physician for his structured thinking, diagnostic skills, and prodigious memory, Brown went on to hold the Chair of Moral Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh from 1810 to 1820.
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