Poems on Several Occasions With Imitations from Horace, Ovid, Martial, Theocritus, Bachylides, Anacreon, &c. To which is prefix'd A Discourse on Criticism, and the Liberty of Writing. In a letter to a Friend. By Samuel Cobb ... The Third Edition. To which is added, Poems on the Duke of Marlborough, Prince Eugene, the Electoral Prince of Hannover, with other Poems. Never before Printed |
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LOVE and MUSICK,
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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LOVE and MUSICK,
An ODE for the Entertainment of the Musical CLUB in Cambridge, 1700.
TO VENUS.
[I.]
Come, Cytherea, from Thy Paphian Bower,Bring ev'ry Grace, and ev'ry Smile
To favour the Britannick Isle,
And listen while we Celebrate thy Pow'r.
Upon the Dewy Ground
With Flowry Garlands crown'd,
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With blushing Roses round him spread,
And op'ning Lillies for his Bed.
II.
Hark! he calls in Musick's Voice:With am'rous Talk the pratling Strings,
Resound, and thy Adonis sings,
While the loud Trumpet's sprightly Noise
Calls the brisk Violin, and soft Flute,
And manly Viol to dispute
The Conquest, and with Triumph gains the Cause
Chorus. Come, Cytherea, come, we all agree,
That Love and Musick make the World's sweet Harmony.
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III.
Prolifick Queen! from Heav'n descend,Mount thy gay Chariot, drawn by milky Doves,
With all thy little Troop of Loves,
Which fill thy Train, thy Court attend.
She comes! she comes! Prepare the glorious Way
With Musick, and salute the Day.
Her wanton Sparrows first appear
And celebrate the new-born Year.
The Lark repeats her lofty Song;
And, stretching out her mounting Wings,
By weary Steps to Heav'n she springs,
And strikes it with her Tongue.
While the shrill Linnet tunes her Silver Throat,
And Philomel instructs her warbling Young
With melancholy Note.
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IV.
Venus obeys the signal Sound:She views the Sunny Hills around,
And from the Sky descends to bless the pregnant Ground.
The Groves erect their Branchy Heads,
And when new liquid Life she pours,
The healing Plants and fragrant Flowers
Rise from their humid Beds.
Numidian Lions feel her gentle Power;
And, soften'd into Tenderness and Love,
Lay down their Fierceness, and forget to roar;
When o'er the howling Wilderness they rove,
To seek their tawny Paramour;
Th' untroubled Ocean flows
With a serener Tide;
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And each his ratling Coral blows.
Come, Goddess, and exert thy Reign;
At thy Approach large Phocæ play
Submitting to thy easie Sway,
And all the Scaly People of the Main,
Thee, Sea-born Queen, obey.
V.
Love, like a subtil Poyson creepsOn Man, and there his Empire keeps.
Rise, Anthony, repair thy ruin'd Fame,
And waken to a Nobler Flame.
The Trumpet calls thee, and the Drum
Rattles; Octavius and the Romans come,
To find a second ACTIUM.
Lo! rouz'd from his deep Lethargy,
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Like Mars, when rushing to the War;
But VENUS smiles to see.
By Venus taught th' Egyptian Queen prepares
Softer Musick, tender Airs.
Delighted Cupids clap their Wings,
And temper all the Magick Strings.
Down, down the melting Lover lies,
Lull'd in th' inchanting Sorceress's Arms,
He feels the Witchcraft of her Eyes,
And true Egyptian Charms.
VI.
What cannot Love and Musick do?Love sent the Thracian Bard down to the Shades below,
When to his Lute the Savages he drew,
And rapid Rivers ceas'd to flow.
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Hell, Thrice, Eurydice reply'd.
Then on the steep insuperable Hill
The Stone of Sisiphus stood still,
And Musick stopt the running Wheel.
He Sung and Play'd,
The Stygian Pow'rs obey'd,
And from the pale Infernal Throng
Streight to his Arms restor'd the beauteous Shade,
So Mighty was his Love! So wondrous was his Song!
| Poems on Several Occasions | |