ページの画像
PDF
ePub

So ftrikes the gazer's eye, the filver gleam
That glitt'ring quivers o'er a diftant stream:
But from its banks we fee new beauties rise,
And, in its crystal bofom, trace the skies.

With other charms the rival vifion glow'd;
And from her drefs her tinfel beauties flow'd.
A flutt'ring robe her pamper'd shape conceal'd,
And feem'd to fhade the charms it beft reveal'd.
Its form, contriv'd her faulty fize to grace;
Its hue, to give fresh luftre to her face.
Her plaited hair difguis'd with brilliants glar'd;
Her cheeks the ruby's neighb'ring luftre shar'd;
The gawdy topaz lent its gay fupplies,

[ocr errors]

And ev'ry gem that strikes lefs curious eyes;
Expos'd her breaft with foreign sweets perfum'd;
And, round her brow, a rofeate garland bloom'd.
Soft-fmiling, blufhing lips conceal'd her wiles;
Yet ah! the blufhes artful as the fmiles.

Oft-gazing on her fhade, th' enraptur'd fair
Decreed the fubftance well deferv'd her care:
Her thoughts, to other's charms malignly blind,
Center'd in that, and were to that confin'd;
And if on other's eyes a glance were thrown,
'Twas but to watch the influence of her own.
Much like her guardian, fair CYTHERA'S queen,
When for her warrior fhe refines her mien;
Or when, to blefs her DELIAN fav'rite's arms,
The radiant fair invigorates her charms.

[blocks in formation]

}

Much like her pupil, EGYPT'S iportive dame,
Her drefs expreffive, and her air the fame,
When her gay bark o'er filver CYDNOS roll'd,
And all th' emblazon'd ftreamers wav'd in gold.
Such fhone the vifion; nor forbore, to move,
The fond contagious airs of lawless love.
Each wanton eye deluding glances fir'd,
And am'rous dimples on each cheek confpir'd.
Lifelefs her gait, and flow, with feeming pain,
She dragg'd her loitering limbs along the plain;
Yet made fomefaint efforts,&firftapproach'dthefwain.
So glaring draughts, with taudry luftre bright,
Spring to the view, and rush upon the fight:
More flowly charms a RAPHAEL'S chafter air,
Waits the calm fearch, and pays the fearcher's care.
Wrap'd in a pleas'd fufpence, the youth furvey'd
The various charms of each attractive maid:
Alternate each he view'd, and each admir'd,
And found, alternate, varying flames inspir❜d.
Quick o'er their forms his eyes with pleasure ran,
When she, who first approach'd him, first began.
"Hither, dear boy, direct thy wand'ring eyes;
'Tis here the lovely vale of pleasure lies.
Debate no more, to me thy life refign;
Each fweet which nature can diffufe is mine.
For me the nymph diverfifies her pow'r,
Springs in a tree, or bloffoms in a flow'r;
To please my ear, fhe tunes the linnet's ftrains;
To please my eye, with lilies paints the plains;

[blocks in formation]

Το

To form my couch, in moffy beds fhe grows;
To gratify my fmell, perfumes the rose;
Reveals the fair, the fertile fcene you fee,
And fwells the vegetable world, for me.

Let the gull'd fool the toils of war pursue,
Where bleed the many to enrich the few :
Where chance from courage claims the boafted prize:

Where, tho' fhe give, your country oft denies.
Industrious thou fhalt CUPID's wars maintain,
And ever gently fight his foft campaign.
His darts alone fhalt wield, his wounds endure,
Yet only fuffer, to enjoy the cure.

Yield but to me-a choir of nymphs shall rise,
And fire thy breast, and bless thy ravish'd eyes.
Their beauteous cheeks a fairer rofe fhall wear,
A brighter lily on their necks appear;

Where fondly thou thy favour'd head shall reft,
Soft as the down that fwells the cygnet's nest!
While PHILOMEL in each foft voice complains,
And gently lulls thee with mellifluous strains :
Whilft, with each accent, sweetest odours flow;
And spicy gums round ev'ry bofom glow.
Not the fam❜d bird Arabian climes admire,
Shall in fuch luxury of sweets expire.

At floth let war's victorious fons exclaim;
In vain! for pleasure is my real name:
Nor envy thou the head with bays o'er-grown;
No, feek thou rofes to adorn thy own:

For

[ocr errors]

For well each op'ning fcene, that claims my care,
Suits and deferves the beauteous crown I wear.

Let others prune the vine; the genial bowl
Shall crown thy table, and enlarge thy foul.
Let vulgar hands explore the brilliant mine,
So the gay produce glitter ftill on thine.
Indulgent BACCHUS loads his lab'ring tree,
And, guarding, gives its cluft'ring fweets to me.
For my lov'd train, APOLLO's piercing beam
Darts thro' the paffive glebe, and frames the gem.
See in my cause confenting gods employ'd,
Nor flight those gods, their bleffings unenjoy'd!
For thee the poplar fhall its amber drain;

For thee, in clouded beauty, fpring the cane;
Some coftly tribute ev'ry clime fhall pay ;
Some charming treasure ev'ry wind convey;
Each object round fome pleafing scene shall yield;
Art build thy dome, while nature decks thy field;
Of CORINTH'S order fhall the structure rife;
The spiring turrets glitter thro' the skies;
Thy coftly robe shall glow with Tyrian rays;
Thy vafe shall sparkle, and thy car fhall blaze;
Yet thou, whatever pomp the fun display,
Shalt own the am'rous night exceeds the day.

When melting flutes, and fweetly-founding lyres Wake the gay loves, and cite the young defires; Or, in th' Ionian dance, fome fav'rite maid Improves the flame her fparkling eyes convey'd ;

Think,

[ 251 ]

Think, can't thou quit a glowing DELIA's arms,
To feed on virtue's vifionary charms?

Or flight the joys which wit and youth engage,
For the faint honour of a frozen fage?

To find dull envy ev'n that hope deface,
And, where you toil'd for glory, reap difgrace?
O! think that beauty waits on thy decree,
And thy lov'd lovelieft charmer pleads with me.
She, whose soft smile, or gentler glance to move,
You vow'd the wild extremities of love;
In whofe endearments years, like moments, flew;
For whofe endearments millions feem'd too few
She, fhe implores; fhe bids thee feize the prime,
And tread with her the flow'ry tracts of time
Nor thus her lovely bloom of life bestow
On fome cold lover, or infulting foe.

Think, if against that tongue thou canst rebel,
Where love yet dwelt, and reason feem'd to dwell;
What strong perfuafion arms her softer fighs!
What full conviction fparkles in her eyes!

See nature smiles, and birds falute the fhade, Where breathing jasmin fcreens the sleeping maid: And fuch her charms, as to the vain may prove, Ambition feeks more humble joys than love! There bufy toil fhall ne'er invade thy reign, Nor sciences perplex thy lab'ring brain: Or none, but what with equal fweets invite; Nor other arts, but to prolong delight:

Some

« 前へ次へ »