 | Poetical essays on Several Occasions |  |
165
Love Idolatrous.
As o'er the Skies bright Venus flew
One shining Summer's Day,
While gentle Doves her Chariot drew,
And Cupids fann'd the Way:
One shining Summer's Day,
While gentle Doves her Chariot drew,
And Cupids fann'd the Way:
Beneath a Tree fair Phillis sat,
In past'ral Dress array'd,
Where Beauty sparkled without State,
And grac'd the solemn Shade;
In past'ral Dress array'd,
Where Beauty sparkled without State,
And grac'd the solemn Shade;
The Moon amidst the Gloom of Night
Thus beautifies the Sky,
And flusht with Majesty of Light
Gilds the dark Cope on high.
Thus beautifies the Sky,
And flusht with Majesty of Light
Gilds the dark Cope on high.
166
Encircling Flow'rs beneath her Feet
In Emulation grew,
To her they offer'd up each Sweet,
And for her Pleasure blew.
In Emulation grew,
To her they offer'd up each Sweet,
And for her Pleasure blew.
Sweet Innocence sat on her Face
As cloudless Skies serene,
Divinity fill'd all the Place,
And sanctify'd the Scene.
As cloudless Skies serene,
Divinity fill'd all the Place,
And sanctify'd the Scene.
At my Approach the Goddess blush'd
Like Roses in their Bloom,
Fresh Glory deck'd the Grove, and flusht
Refulgent o'er the Gloom.
Like Roses in their Bloom,
Fresh Glory deck'd the Grove, and flusht
Refulgent o'er the Gloom.
Struck with such Charms the Gazer fell
Transfix'd with Cupid's Steel;
The Passion was too great to tell,
The Wound too deep to feel.
Transfix'd with Cupid's Steel;
The Passion was too great to tell,
The Wound too deep to feel.
167
Bright Nymph inferior Charms than thine
A vulgar Flame may raise,
But I like Vot'rys at a Shrine
Pay Homage as I gaze.
A vulgar Flame may raise,
But I like Vot'rys at a Shrine
Pay Homage as I gaze.
Your strict Iconomist I grow,
Thus dedicate my Vow,
As at Loretto's gilded Show
Deluded Papists bow.
Thus dedicate my Vow,
As at Loretto's gilded Show
Deluded Papists bow.
My Love does to Devotion turn,
Devotion kindles Love;
And thus alternately I burn,
And in two Regions move.
Devotion kindles Love;
And thus alternately I burn,
And in two Regions move.
You, Phillis, you can turn the Scale,
False Idol, I your Priest,
Let Love o'er Reverence prevail,
And idol Vows desist.
False Idol, I your Priest,
Let Love o'er Reverence prevail,
And idol Vows desist.
168
Regard my Sighs, or you'll become
Some Magdalene indeed,
Fit Image to adorn a Room,
And dumb Adorers feed.
Some Magdalene indeed,
Fit Image to adorn a Room,
And dumb Adorers feed.
Phidias, or Guido, in their Sphere,
May have Admirers still,
But ah! fine Paintings cannot hear,
Nor a Minerva feel.
May have Admirers still,
But ah! fine Paintings cannot hear,
Nor a Minerva feel.
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