The Works of John Hall-Stevenson ... Corrected and Enlarged. With Several Original Poems, Now First Printed, and Explanatory Notes. In Three Volumes |
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The APOTHEOSIS or the INSTELLATION. BOOK III. ODE XXV. |
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 | The Works of John Hall-Stevenson |  |
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The APOTHEOSIS or the INSTELLATION. BOOK III. ODE XXV.
To BACCHUS.
Whither, O Bacchus, am I hurry'd,
O'er mountains high, thro' woods and valleys;
How are my spirits toss'd and flurry'd,
With sudden and unwonted sallies!
O'er mountains high, thro' woods and valleys;
How are my spirits toss'd and flurry'd,
With sudden and unwonted sallies!
Where can I find a cave to muse
Upon his lordship's envied glory;
Which of the Nine dare to refuse
To tell the strange and recent story?
Upon his lordship's envied glory;
Which of the Nine dare to refuse
To tell the strange and recent story?
Mounting I saw the egregious lord
,
O'er all impediments and bars;
I saw him at Jove's council-board,
And saw him stuck amongst the stars.
O'er all impediments and bars;
I saw him at Jove's council-board,
And saw him stuck amongst the stars.
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Not more amaz'd, with ivy crown'd,
Thy priestess, having booz'd all night,
In chains of ice sees Hebrus bound,
And all the Thracian mountains white.
Thy priestess, having booz'd all night,
In chains of ice sees Hebrus bound,
And all the Thracian mountains white.
I saw him top the Pyrenees,
And lost him in the blaze of day;
At night I spy'd him at his ease,
With Anser in the milky way.
And lost him in the blaze of day;
At night I spy'd him at his ease,
With Anser in the milky way.
Thou, to whom Naiads bend their knees,
That nightly sport in Charlotte's bowers,
Whose hands can pluck up forest trees,
As easily as gather flowers;
That nightly sport in Charlotte's bowers,
Whose hands can pluck up forest trees,
As easily as gather flowers;
Deign to inspire my feeble song;
Deign to accompany my flight;
Inform me, Bacchus, when I'm wrong,
Invigorate me when I'm right.
Deign to accompany my flight;
Inform me, Bacchus, when I'm wrong,
Invigorate me when I'm right.
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I hate tame themes, abhor tame measure,
And scorn the vulgar's tasteless praises:
'Tis hazardous; but O what pleasure
To reel with thee through pathless mazes!
And scorn the vulgar's tasteless praises:
'Tis hazardous; but O what pleasure
To reel with thee through pathless mazes!
| The Works of John Hall-Stevenson | |