[
  {
    "title": "203. Sylvander to Clarinda",
    "author": "Robert Burns",
    "lines": [
      "WHEN dear Clarinda, 1 matchless fair,",
      "  First struck Sylvander’s raptur’d view,",
      "He gaz’d, he listened to despair,",
      "  Alas! ’twas all he dared to do.",
      "",
      "",
      "Love, from Clarinda’s heavenly eyes,",
      "  Transfixed his bosom thro’ and thro’;",
      "But still in Friendships’ guarded guise,",
      "  For more the demon fear’d to do.",
      "",
      "",
      "That heart, already more than lost,",
      "  The imp beleaguer’d all perdue;",
      "For frowning Honour kept his post—",
      "  To meet that frown, he shrunk to do.",
      "",
      "",
      "His pangs the Bard refused to own,",
      "  Tho’ half he wish’d Clarinda knew;",
      "But Anguish wrung the unweeting groan—",
      "  Who blames what frantic Pain must do?",
      "",
      "",
      "That heart, where motley follies blend,",
      "  Was sternly still to Honour true:",
      "To prove Clarinda’s fondest friend,",
      "  Was what a lover sure might do.",
      "",
      "",
      "The Muse his ready quill employed,",
      "  No nearer bliss he could pursue;",
      "That bliss Clarinda cold deny’d—",
      "  “Send word by Charles how you do!”",
      "",
      "",
      "The chill behest disarm’d his muse,",
      "  Till passion all impatient grew:",
      "He wrote, and hinted for excuse,",
      "  ’Twas, ’cause “he’d nothing else to do.”",
      "",
      "",
      "But by those hopes I have above!",
      "  And by those faults I dearly rue!",
      "The deed, the boldest mark of love,",
      "  For thee that deed I dare uo do!",
      "",
      "",
      "O could the Fates but name the price",
      "  Would bless me with your charms and you!",
      "With frantic joy I’d pay it thrice,",
      "  If human art and power could do!",
      "",
      "",
      "Then take, Clarinda, friendship’s hand,",
      "  (Friendship, at least, I may avow;)",
      "And lay no more your chill command,—",
      "  I’ll write whatever I’ve to do.SYLVANDER.",
      "",
      "",
      " Note 1. A grass-widow, Mrs. M’Lehose. [back]"
    ],
    "linecount": "41"
  }
]