 | Poems on several subjects |  |
6
The ODE.
Taught to command, frail human laws
May plead their proud dictator's cause,
And muster sanction as a name
To lash obedience into fame.
May plead their proud dictator's cause,
And muster sanction as a name
To lash obedience into fame.
But love, that still subsisting phrase,
Commanded in the golden days,
Even brought a Jove's red thund'ring arms
To stoop beneath its conquering charms.
Commanded in the golden days,
Even brought a Jove's red thund'ring arms
To stoop beneath its conquering charms.
Pluto, that dull infernal king,
Exulted rapt'rous in his reign;
The black and immemorial stream,
Could ne'er ingulf Proserpine's name.
Exulted rapt'rous in his reign;
The black and immemorial stream,
Could ne'er ingulf Proserpine's name.
Sol, the bright regent of the day,
Sunk at Leucothoe's brighter ray;
Pent up in clouds, revolv'd to night,
And bade his love dispense the light.
Sunk at Leucothoe's brighter ray;
Pent up in clouds, revolv'd to night,
And bade his love dispense the light.
Wedlock, kind Cyprus' early claim,
Will softly lengthen out its flame,
While flashing lights wheel round their way,
And nymphs shine brighter here than they.
Will softly lengthen out its flame,
While flashing lights wheel round their way,
And nymphs shine brighter here than they.
Hail, welcome tie! stretch on thy chain,
Still add a conquest with thy pain;
When eye-ball lightning wounds the heart,
With nuptial balm bind up the smart.
Still add a conquest with thy pain;
When eye-ball lightning wounds the heart,
With nuptial balm bind up the smart.
Douglas, who swells the lifts of fame,
And echo founders on his name,
Hath felt the power of Venus' son,
And 'tach'd his honours to his own.
And echo founders on his name,
Hath felt the power of Venus' son,
And 'tach'd his honours to his own.
From Agatha's imperial eyes
Delicious death so frequent flies,
The prostrate beau invokes the care
Of Cupid to insure the fair.
Delicious death so frequent flies,
The prostrate beau invokes the care
Of Cupid to insure the fair.
7
The sigh'd request soon reach'd the throne,
The melting eyes became his own;
The fond well-natur'd gods up stood,
To join the noble with the good.
The melting eyes became his own;
The fond well-natur'd gods up stood,
To join the noble with the good.
The Graces gamboll'd in array,
Which far outblaz'd the glare of day;
Yet, inly groan so soon's they see
The fourth outshine the former three.
Which far outblaz'd the glare of day;
Yet, inly groan so soon's they see
The fourth outshine the former three.
Illustrious fair! your consort prove
In's acts as happy as his love;
Enjoy the triumph of your eyes,
Nobility's the fairest prize.
In's acts as happy as his love;
Enjoy the triumph of your eyes,
Nobility's the fairest prize.
Hail, happy Pair, distinguish'd shine,
The parents of a race divine;
Dissolve in smiles, and Virtue's store
Be yours, till Heaven can give no more.
The parents of a race divine;
Dissolve in smiles, and Virtue's store
Be yours, till Heaven can give no more.
| Poems on several subjects | |