Miscellanies in Verse and Prose :: :: University of Virginia Library

Descend from Heav'n, Calliope Divine,
Descend, and gracefully ordain
Of solemn Length some flowing Strain,
Thou sweetest of the tuneful Nine;
Whether the clear melodious Voice,
Or animated Lyre be thy propitious Choice.

Hark! hear ye not the Muse? or am I caught
With the gay Error of th'ecstatic Thought?
Methinks I hear the Muse, and see her stray
Along the sacred Groves delightful Way,
Where murm'ring Waters roll, and living Breezes play!

Me ev'n a Boy this Omen crown'd;
When roaming from Apulia's Bound,
My native Soil, and tir'd with Play,
On Vultur's Hill in careless Sleep I lay,
Soft Doves, the Birds of Venus, pleasing Pow'r!
With verdant Leaves officious strew'd me o'er.
The People too, residing nigh,
They who in Acherontia dwell,
Plac'd like a shelter'd Nest on high,
And Bantia hold, whose Woods excell,
Or where Ferentum's humbler Meadows lye,

Astonish'd saw me slumb'ring there,
Safe from the Viper and the Bear,
Wrap'd with the Laurel's lively Green,
And sprightly Myrtle mix'd between,
Protected by the Gods, an Infant void of Fear.

If to the Sabines rugged Fields I go,
Or cold Prœneste, chill with Snow,
Or climb the Tibur's hilly Height,
Or seek in Baiæ soft Delight,
Still I am yours, O charming Nine!
And worship still your Band Divine.

Devoted to your Choir and sacred Streams,
Unhurt I pass'd thro' dire Extreams;
Not Cæsar's Troops, when Brutus' Army fled,
Dispers'd, from sad Philippi's fatal Plain,
Nor that detested Tree, whose Fall
Threaten'd its Lord's endanger'd Head,
Nor Palinurus on Sicilia's Main,
Touch'd my safe Life, shielded by You from all.

By You attended, I defy
The Bosphorus's stormy Sea,
Or thro' Assyria take my Way,
Where scorching Sands and lonely Desarts lye;
Visit th'inhospitable Britons Shore,
Or them who quaff the Horses Gore,

Or the Gelonian Race, who bear
The furnish'd Quiver to the War,
Scythia's River pass, and any Danger dare.

When Cæsar, from their Martial Toil
His weary'd Legions breathes awhile,
Closing the Labours of the Field,
In the Pierian Cave your tuneful Train
Th'Imperial Victor entertain,
And chear with Joys the Muses only yield.
Mild Counsels still, serene and bright,
You give, and in the gracious Gift delight.

The Titans impious Race, we know,
And all the bold enormous Band,
He did with Thunders overthrow,
Who o'er the stedfast Earth and stormy Main,
O'er Cities, and the Realms below,
And Gods and mortal Men, with wide Command,
Do's single hold his righteous Reign.

The horrid Crew, confiding in their Might,
Struck Jove himself with strange Affright,
When on Olympus' lofty Shade
The daring Brethren Pelion laid.

But what can Typhon's Rage supply?
Or Mimas' Strength? or huge Porphyrion, high

In Stature, threat'ning like a Tow'r?
What Rhœcus? or Enceladus's Pow'r,
Whose single Arm cou'd tear and wield
Unrooted Trees across the warring Field,
When Pallas lifts her dreaded Shield?

Here Vulcan stood, and Juno there,
And He, whose Shoulders ever bear
The Quiver and unerring Bow,
And in Castalia's Streams, that clearly flow,
Washes his Length of loosely-waving Hair;
Who holds the Lycian Groves, his natal Soil,
And thence receives his double Style,
Delian Apollo call'd, and Patarean too.

But Strength, devoid of Prudence, falls to Ground
Self-baffled, while, approving Right,
The Gods enlarge well-govern'd Might,
And justly hate, and still confound
Pernicious Pow'rs, that with perverted Mind
All Mischief studious brood, to Villany resign'd.

Huge Gyas with his hundred Hands
A Witness of this Sentence stands,
And bold Orion, who presum'd to try
Diana's spotless Chastity,
When from her Virgin Bow, the Dart
Pierc'd the rude Ravisher's aspiring Heart.

And burthen'd Earth beneath the Load
Of her own vanquish'd Monsters sighs,
And weeps to see her slaughter'd Brood
Driv'n down, with Light'ning, to the Realms of Death;
Perpetual Flames from angry Ætna rise,
Cast on the Giant crush'd beneath;
Nor do's the rav'nous Vulture spare
Lewd Tityus' Liver, plac'd for ever there
Th'Avenger of his Crime, unsated and severe;
Nor can Pirithous e'er remove
His huge three hundred Chains for his unlawful Love.