title: To Arabella, who, in fastening a Needle on her humble Servant's Sleeve, slightly wounded him
author: Henry Livingston Jr.
date: 1793
source: New-York Magazine; or, Literary Repository, vol. IV no. II, Feb 1793, p. 119, signed R (site page mislabels the periodical "Weekly Museum"). URL: https://www.henrylivingston.com/writing/poetry/arabella.htm (fetched via https://web.archive.org/web/20250522014525/https://www.henrylivingston.com/writing/poetry/arabella.htm)
form: trochaic tetrameter
lines: 16
attribution: probable
notes: Light gallant verse. Not in MS; attributed by pseudonym R. Printing independently confirmed in the archive.org OCR of the Feb 1793 issue. Site heading/headnote: To Arabella, who, in fastening a Needle on her | humble Servant's Sleeve, | slightly wounded him.

BLOOMING as the youthful May,
As the brilliant morning gay,
(Loves and graces playing round
Ever where the nymph is found)
Smiling, she a needle drew,
And my sleeve transfixed thro':
Touch'd my arm -- tho' small the smart,
Yet I feel it at my heart.

Cupid from his polish'd bow,
Never did an arrow throw,
In his most capricious whim,
Half so fatal or so keen.
Wounded whither shall I go,
But to her that gave the blow?

Spare your victim, Charmer spare!
Be not cruel as you're fair.