 | Poems |  |
35
ODE To MUSIC.
Goddess of soul-commanding song,
What varied gifts to thee belong
Let Bards enraptur'd strive to tell
More skill'd to sound the Muse's shell:
Let these confess the lyric flame,
In glowing verse exalt thy name,
With rage divine thy praises sing;
And boldly sweep the conscious string.
Be mine a humbler wreath to gain
Be mine to paint the frantic swain
Who flew, deceiv'd by hope's vain charms,
To meet the yielding virgin's arms,
But, hapless, for his promis'd fair
Clasp'd the fell demon of despair:—
Relentless Fate his bliss denied
And from the Shepherd snatch'd his bride.
What varied gifts to thee belong
Let Bards enraptur'd strive to tell
More skill'd to sound the Muse's shell:
Let these confess the lyric flame,
In glowing verse exalt thy name,
With rage divine thy praises sing;
And boldly sweep the conscious string.
Be mine a humbler wreath to gain
Be mine to paint the frantic swain
Who flew, deceiv'd by hope's vain charms,
To meet the yielding virgin's arms,
But, hapless, for his promis'd fair
Clasp'd the fell demon of despair:—
Relentless Fate his bliss denied
And from the Shepherd snatch'd his bride.
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Assist me, in that mournful hour,
Bright Goddess, to record thy power!
Bright Goddess, to record thy power!
Where thro' the grove in scatter'd streams
Pale Cynthia pours her languid beams
Along the valley's lonely way,
I see the love-lorn mourner stray.
Oft to the skies he turns his sight
And views the living lamps of light,
Now, throws convulsive glances round;
Now, wildly gazes on the ground.
But ah! no tears bedew those eyes,
From that pale lip no murmur flies:
His breast such speechless anguish fills,
His palsicd tongue such horror chills!
Pale Cynthia pours her languid beams
Along the valley's lonely way,
I see the love-lorn mourner stray.
Oft to the skies he turns his sight
And views the living lamps of light,
Now, throws convulsive glances round;
Now, wildly gazes on the ground.
But ah! no tears bedew those eyes,
From that pale lip no murmur flies:
His breast such speechless anguish fills,
His palsicd tongue such horror chills!
Harmonious Nymph, resume thy reed,
Oh, bid his bosom cease to bleed:—
With thee to rouse the slumbering plain
Let night's blest minstrel wake her strain!
Oh, bid his bosom cease to bleed:—
With thee to rouse the slumbering plain
Let night's blest minstrel wake her strain!
Hark:—slowly-breathing o'er the skies
What soft ætherial sounds arise!
The Goddess hears: she tunes her reed:
She bids his bosom cease to bleed:
And, sweetest of the warbling throng,
Night's minstrel emulates the song.
Lo, while her swelling voice prepares
Diviner measures, softer airs;
Swift from their haunts on slender wing
The fairy bands delighted spring!
In crowds they fly, nor in their cell
To speed the yet unfinished spell,
Remains one ling'ring elfin sprite
Of all the aerial sons of night.
Retir'd beneath a veiling cloud
The listening Fays their numbers shroud,
And, as the soaring song aspires,
Return the strain with echoing lyres.
What soft ætherial sounds arise!
37
She bids his bosom cease to bleed:
And, sweetest of the warbling throng,
Night's minstrel emulates the song.
Lo, while her swelling voice prepares
Diviner measures, softer airs;
Swift from their haunts on slender wing
The fairy bands delighted spring!
In crowds they fly, nor in their cell
To speed the yet unfinished spell,
Remains one ling'ring elfin sprite
Of all the aerial sons of night.
Retir'd beneath a veiling cloud
The listening Fays their numbers shroud,
And, as the soaring song aspires,
Return the strain with echoing lyres.
Unrivall'd power! with joy behold
The wond'rous scene thy lays unfold.
See, Goddess, o'er that faded check
How well the bursting tears bespeak
What lenient aid thy notes impart
To calm a Lover's wounded heart!
Charm'd at thy voice, Grief checks her tide,
And Passion's whelming waves subside;
Entranc'd the Shepherd feels thy breath
Dispel the louring shades of death:
He drinks the joy-inspiring note,
And all his fears in Lethe float!
The wond'rous scene thy lays unfold.
See, Goddess, o'er that faded check
How well the bursting tears bespeak
What lenient aid thy notes impart
To calm a Lover's wounded heart!
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And Passion's whelming waves subside;
Entranc'd the Shepherd feels thy breath
Dispel the louring shades of death:
He drinks the joy-inspiring note,
And all his fears in Lethe float!
Now, lull'd anew the plain to peace,
Thou bidst thy pitying labours cease.
Th' assembled Elves in close array
Their squadrons join, and haste away,
Again within the leafy bower
In mystic dance to waste the hour
Till orient rays of ruddy light
Announce the falling reign of night.
Thou bidst thy pitying labours cease.
Th' assembled Elves in close array
Their squadrons join, and haste away,
Again within the leafy bower
In mystic dance to waste the hour
Till orient rays of ruddy light
Announce the falling reign of night.
Blest guardian of melodious lay,
What savage heart resists thy sway—
What wretch, if thou attune the lyre,
Owns not the bliss thy notes inspire?
Ev'n Love's unutterable wound
Hath felt the healing force of sound!
What savage heart resists thy sway—
What wretch, if thou attune the lyre,
Owns not the bliss thy notes inspire?
Ev'n Love's unutterable wound
Hath felt the healing force of sound!
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