The Poetical Works of Anna Seward With Extracts from her Literary Correspondence. Edited by Walter Scott ... In Three Volumes |
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ODE TO EUPHROSYNE,
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 | The Poetical Works of Anna Seward |  |
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ODE TO EUPHROSYNE,
AN EPITHALAMIUM ON THE MARRIAGE OF DOCTOR D--- AND MISS M---.
Daughter of Heaven, and friend of earth,
Who fear'st no cloud upon thy rosy light,
Parent of Health, and Wit, and Mirth,
Dispensing permanence to gay delight,
Euphrosyne, this sacred hour,
Consecrate the mutual vow!—
Impassion'd Love must twine his wreath in vain,
And vainly gild the nuptial chain,
If thou should'st rove more favour'd scenes among,
Goddess of my rising song!
Of texture frail then would each joy be form'd,
And care must chill the hearts enamour'd transport warm'd.
Who fear'st no cloud upon thy rosy light,
Parent of Health, and Wit, and Mirth,
Dispensing permanence to gay delight,
Euphrosyne, this sacred hour,
Consecrate the mutual vow!—
Impassion'd Love must twine his wreath in vain,
And vainly gild the nuptial chain,
If thou should'st rove more favour'd scenes among,
Goddess of my rising song!
Of texture frail then would each joy be form'd,
And care must chill the hearts enamour'd transport warm'd.
Queen of the dimpled smile, be near,
Thy influence on the bridal garland breathe!
Since oft the buds of nightshade darkly peer
Beneath the sprays of that envermeil'd wreath,
Too prone are Grief, Disease, and Care,
To slide those mournful emblems there;
And oft, with pallid lip and furrow'd brows,
Jealousy remorseless throws
Fires on the marriage flame, which soon expand,
And change it to a livid brand;
But thou, gay Goddess, with auspicious mien
Hymen's bright torch can'st guard, his blooming garland screen.
Thy influence on the bridal garland breathe!
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Beneath the sprays of that envermeil'd wreath,
Too prone are Grief, Disease, and Care,
To slide those mournful emblems there;
And oft, with pallid lip and furrow'd brows,
Jealousy remorseless throws
Fires on the marriage flame, which soon expand,
And change it to a livid brand;
But thou, gay Goddess, with auspicious mien
Hymen's bright torch can'st guard, his blooming garland screen.
Come then, on the morning gale,
Chasing every demon pale!
So flies the mist when Phoebus gleams,
Pierced thro' and thro' with arrowy beams
Come then, and the lovers hail,
Worthy all thy dear caressing,
Liveliest smile, and fondest blessing!—
Venus bade the youth inherit
Love, and virtues that endure;
Flames, which fired the lover's spirit,
When time was young, and faith was pure.
Not gay Leander with more ardour warm
When his firm nerves each rising dread withstood;
When, braving night,—the sea,—the howling storm,
He plough'd the billows of the Euxine flood.
This plighted pair should midnight waves divide,
As bold an arm would stem the loud, conflicting tide.
Chasing every demon pale!
So flies the mist when Phoebus gleams,
Pierced thro' and thro' with arrowy beams
Come then, and the lovers hail,
Worthy all thy dear caressing,
Liveliest smile, and fondest blessing!—
Venus bade the youth inherit
Love, and virtues that endure;
Flames, which fired the lover's spirit,
When time was young, and faith was pure.
Not gay Leander with more ardour warm
When his firm nerves each rising dread withstood;
When, braving night,—the sea,—the howling storm,
He plough'd the billows of the Euxine flood.
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As bold an arm would stem the loud, conflicting tide.
A deep glen hides his chosen maid,
The tender flower of that sequester'd vale;
In the sweet lily's charms array'd,
When from the sun its folding leaves conceal
The bending cups of purest snow,
Whence its lavish perfumes flow.
So dwells, beneath that modest air,
A soul, as her complexion fair,
As her quick blush, and sunny tresses warm;
Mindless to fear, or practise harm,
No cold distrust repels its fervent glow,
Closes her liberal hand, or shades her smiling brow.
The tender flower of that sequester'd vale;
In the sweet lily's charms array'd,
When from the sun its folding leaves conceal
The bending cups of purest snow,
Whence its lavish perfumes flow.
So dwells, beneath that modest air,
A soul, as her complexion fair,
As her quick blush, and sunny tresses warm;
Mindless to fear, or practise harm,
No cold distrust repels its fervent glow,
Closes her liberal hand, or shades her smiling brow.
Credulity, of Virtue born,
With the swift-springing drop of pity's dew,
In mild simplicity, adorn,
And shed o'er her ripe youth their freshest hue;
While Taste, arranging Fancy's stores,
A clear libation gently pours
Incessant on the texture of her mind;
By the sparkling streams refined
From rust opake, and from the misty stains
Which languid indolence retains.
Haste then, Euphrosyne, and bless the shrines,
Where the dear artless maid her plighted hand resigns!
With the swift-springing drop of pity's dew,
In mild simplicity, adorn,
And shed o'er her ripe youth their freshest hue;
While Taste, arranging Fancy's stores,
A clear libation gently pours
Incessant on the texture of her mind;
By the sparkling streams refined
From rust opake, and from the misty stains
Which languid indolence retains.
Haste then, Euphrosyne, and bless the shrines,
Where the dear artless maid her plighted hand resigns!
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Be the faithful, generous pair,
Goddess, thy incessant care!
Wave thou still, with jocund mirth,
Thy light wand o'er their glowing hearth,
Where drops no briny tear!
Wave it, when wintry storms are yelling
Loud around their cheerful dwelling;
When summer rays, the year adorning,
Bless each mountain, dale, and plain,
Light again the crystal morning,
Gild the splendent noon again;
Or tinge the purple clouds of beauteous eve,
Slowly that fade into the stealing night.—
O! may each veering scene from thee receive
White tints of peace, and pleasure's ruddy light!
Since absent thou, how dim our youthful days,
Thou, who canst more illume the gorgeous, solar blaze!
Goddess, thy incessant care!
Wave thou still, with jocund mirth,
Thy light wand o'er their glowing hearth,
Where drops no briny tear!
Wave it, when wintry storms are yelling
Loud around their cheerful dwelling;
When summer rays, the year adorning,
Bless each mountain, dale, and plain,
Light again the crystal morning,
Gild the splendent noon again;
Or tinge the purple clouds of beauteous eve,
Slowly that fade into the stealing night.—
O! may each veering scene from thee receive
White tints of peace, and pleasure's ruddy light!
Since absent thou, how dim our youthful days,
Thou, who canst more illume the gorgeous, solar blaze!
| The Poetical Works of Anna Seward | |