Poems upon Several Occasions | ||
15
Out of Bion.
Love's Tutor.
As underdeath an Oak one Day
Free from unpeaceful Thoughts I lay
A gentle Slumber o'er my head
His downy Wing had softly spread:
When lo! before me seem'd to stand
Bright Beauty's Queen, and in her hand
Her little winged Son she had;
A peevish, proud, unhappy Lad
He is, tho' then h'appeared mild,
And humble as a sucking Child.
Free from unpeaceful Thoughts I lay
A gentle Slumber o'er my head
His downy Wing had softly spread:
When lo! before me seem'd to stand
Bright Beauty's Queen, and in her hand
Her little winged Son she had;
A peevish, proud, unhappy Lad
He is, tho' then h'appeared mild,
And humble as a sucking Child.
Dear Shepherd, I commend to thee
My Son: pray take him home (said she)
And teach him Poetry, for well
I know, thou dost therein excel:
Nor shalt thou unrewarded go,
If Venus can rewards bestow.
My Son: pray take him home (said she)
And teach him Poetry, for well
I know, thou dost therein excel:
16
If Venus can rewards bestow.
This said, away she went, and I
(Proud of the Office) by and by
Took my young Scholar, and began
To teach the wanton Wag to scan
A Verse upon his Fingers: but,
The D--- a dram would Cupid do't.
No; He began to sing to me
Songs of Love and Jolity,
Songs of God's and Mortal's Pleasures,
And t'unfold his Mother's Treasures.
(Proud of the Office) by and by
Took my young Scholar, and began
To teach the wanton Wag to scan
A Verse upon his Fingers: but,
The D--- a dram would Cupid do't.
No; He began to sing to me
Songs of Love and Jolity,
Songs of God's and Mortal's Pleasures,
And t'unfold his Mother's Treasures.
Soon, alas! soon I forgot
All that the Youth I meant t'have taught.
But his wicked Ballads out
Of my Mind I ne'er could put,
Nor ever since my lips could move
To sing of any thing but Love.
All that the Youth I meant t'have taught.
But his wicked Ballads out
Of my Mind I ne'er could put,
Nor ever since my lips could move
To sing of any thing but Love.
Poems upon Several Occasions | ||