13 "No vulgar Damon robs me of my rest; A prince, from gods descended, fires her breast; 14" What shall I stain the glories of my race, More clear, more lovely bright, than Hesper's beam? The porcelain pure with vulgar dirt debase? Or mix with puddle the pellucid stream? 15 "See through these veins the sapphire current shine! 'Twas Jove's own nectar gave th' ethereal hue: Can base plebeian forms contend with mine, Display the lovely white, or match the blue? 16 "The painter strove to trace its azure ray; He changed his colours, and in vain he strove: 17 "Pitying his toil, the wondrous truth I told, 18 "Yes, from the gods, from earliest Saturn, sprung Our sacred race, through demi-gods convey'd, And he, allied to Phœbus, ever young, My godlike boy! must wed their duteous maid. 19 "Oft, when a mortal vow profanes my ear, My sire's dread fury murmurs through the sky; 20 "Have you not heard unwonted thunders roll? 21 ""Twas then a peasant pour'd his amorous vow, Yet such his beauty-would my birth allow, 22 "But, oh, I faint! why wastes my vernal bloom, 23 " When last I slept, methought my ravish'd eye 66 24 "O how this bosom kindled at the sight! Led by their beams I urged the pleasing chase, 25 "But now no more-Behind the distant grove Wanders my destined youth, and chides my stay: See, see! he grasps the steel-Forbear, my LoveIanthe comes; thy princess hastes away." 26 Scornful she spoke, and, heedless of reply, The lovely maniac bounded o'er the plain, The piteous victim of an angry sky! Ah me! the victim of her proud disdain. HE INDULGES THE SUGGESTIONS OF SPLEEN.-AN ELEGY TO THE WINDS. Eole! namque tibi divûm Pater atque hominum rex, IMITATION. O Eolus! to thee the Sire supreme Oi gods and men the mighty power bequeath'd 1 Stern Monarch of the winds! admit my prayer ; 2 What bands of black ideas spread their wings! 3 I know their leader, Spleen, and the dread sway Of rigid Eurus, his detested sire; Through one my blossoms and my fruits decay; 4 Like some pale stripling, when his icy way 5 Where, by remorse impell'd, repulsed by fears, Shall wretched Fancy a retreat explore? She flies the sad presage of coming years, And sorrowing dwells on pleasures now no more. 6 Again with patrons and with friends she roves ; 7 She visits, Isis! thy forsaken stream, She deems no flood reflects so bright a beam, 8 She dreams beneath thy sacred shades were peace, 9 Farewell, with whom to these retreats I stray'd, 10 She paints the progress of my rival's vow, 11 She bids the flattering mirror, form'd to please, 12 Where circling rocks defend some pathless vale, Superfluous mortal! let me ever rove; Alas! there Echo will repeat the tale- 13 Fain would I mourn my luckless fate alone, Forbid to please, yet fated to admire ; Away, my friends! my sorrows are my own! >Why should I breathe around my sick desire? 14 Bear me, ye winds, indulgent to my pains, Near some sad ruin's ghastly shade to dwell! 15 Genius of Rome! thy prostrate pomp display! Trace every dismal proof of Fortune's power; Let me the wreck of theatres survey, Or pensive sit beneath some nodding tower. 16 Or where some duct, by rolling seasons worn, Convey'd pure streams to Rome's imperial wall, 17 Genius of Carthage! paint thy ruin'd pride; Towers, arches, fanes, in wild confusion strewn ; Let banish'd Marius, lowering by thy side, Compare thy fickle fortunes with his own. 18 Ah no! thou monarch of the storms! forbear; |