Poems and Songs by Thomas Flatman. The Fourth Edition with many Additions and Amendments |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
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Book IV. ODE I.
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 | Poems and Songs |  |
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Book IV. ODE I.
To Venus.
No more of War:—Dread Cytherea, cease;Thy feeble Souldier sues for Peace.
Alas I am not now that man of might,
As when fair Cinara bad me fight.
Leave Venus, leave! consider my gray hairs
Snow'd on by fifty tedious years.
My Forts are slighted, and my Bulwarks down:
Go, and beleaguer some strong Town.
Make thy attempts on Maximus; there's game
To entertain thy Sword, and Flame.
There Peace and Plenty dwell: He's of the Court,
Ignorant what 'tis to storm a Fort:
There sound a charge; he's generous and young,
He's unconcern'd, lusty and strong:
He of thy silken Banners will be proud,
And of thy Conquests talk aloud,
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To be thy Treasurer in War.
He may erect Gold Statues to thy name:
And be the Trumpet of thy fame:
Thy Deity the zealous youth will then invoke,
And make thy beauteous Altars smoke.
With Voice, and Instruments thy praise shall sound;
Division he, and Love the ground,
There, twice a day the gamesome company
Of Lads and Lasses in debvoir to thee,
Like Mars's Priests their numbers shall advance,
And sweetly sing, and nimbly dance.
But as for me! I'm quite dispirited,
I court nor Maid, nor Boy to bed!
I cannot drink, nor bind a Garland on,
Alas! my dancing days are done!
But hold—Why do these tears steal from my Eyes?
My lovely Ligurinus, why?
Why does my fault'ring tongue disguise my voice
With rude, and inarticulate noise?
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Methinks I grasp thee in my brest:
Then I pursue thee in my passionate dreams
O're pleasant fields, and purling streams.
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