The Golden Net

    `Whither， young man， whither away

    Alas² for woe³！ alas for woe！'

    They cry， and tears for ever flow.

    The one was cloth'd in flames of fire，

    The other cloth'd in iron wire，

    The other cloth'd in tears and sighs

    Dazzling bright before my eyes.

    They bore a Net of golden twine⁴

    To hang upon the branches fine.

    Pitying I wept to see the woe

    That Love and Beauty undergo，

    To be consum'd in burning fires

    And in ungratified desires，

    And in tears cloth'd night and day

    Melted all my soul away.

    When they saw my tears， a smile

    That did Heaven itself beguile⁵，

    Bore the Golden Net aloft

    As on downy pinions⁶ soft，

    Over the Morning of my day.

    Underneath⁷ the net I stray，

    Now entreating⁸ Burning Fire

    Now entreating Iron Wire，

    Now entreating Tears and Sighs——

    O！ when will the morning rise？