SCENE I.
A gloomy valley with caves and trees on one side; a fountain
issuing from a rock and forming a stream on the other: the
sea seen at the termination of the vale, and the moon setting
in the horizon. Sappho in her female habit comes out of one
of the caves unattended.
SAPPHO.
The radiant Queen of night retires,
And quits her silver car;
The Pleiads veil their lambent fires,
And ev'ry glittering star,
That flam'd on midnight's sable brow,
Have ceas'd to tremble, and to glow;
While, lost to Phaon, love, and joy,
I heave the solitary sigh:
Still pants my wakeful heart, still weeps my wearied eye.
[She reclines on a bank.
Ah! come ye balmy powers of sleep,
Nor from my arms, like Phaon, rove.
O! bid my eyes forget to weep!
Bid my fond heart forget to love.