University of Virginia Library

Search this document 

27

ODE XVIII.

[Make me, lovely artisan]

Make me, lovely artisan,
Make me what you nobly can,
(And all your wit, to grave it, bring;)
A golden goblet of the Spring;
A graceful cup, whereon disclose
The hour, that brings the blooming rose;
The flowing metal simply grave,
That I a heavenly cup may have.
And I exhort, no foreign rites,
Nor hateful story, cruel fights,
But Jove's immortal seed design,
Bacchus, who gave the purple wine;
And Venus, who doth smile and sway
With shout and dance the marriage day;
And Cupid, of all armour free;
The laughing Graces let me see
Under a vine of shady leaf,
The happy vineyard's ample chief:

28

And graceful boys together bring,
The fair companions of the Spring;
But, noble Sculptor, take thou care,
Apollo be not playing there.
 

Alluding to the fable of Hyacinth.