Persian love elegies To which is added The nymph of Tauris [by John Wolcot] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
ELEGY VIII.
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| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
 | Persian love elegies |  |
21
ELEGY VIII.
[Curst be the wretch who cries “the gentle maid]
SELIM EXPRESSES HIS INDIGNATION AGAINST SUCH AS DENY THE EXISTENCE OF WOMEN IN A FUTURE STATE HE PARTICULARLY REPROVES SADI, AN ELEGANT POET (THE PETRARCH) OF PERSIA, FOR ADVANCING IN HIS POEMS SO CRUEL AN OPINION.
Curst be the wretch who cries “the gentle maid
Drinks not in yonder Sphere the living spring:
Doom'd like the transient flow'r to blow and fade,
To die like insects with a painted wing.”
Drinks not in yonder Sphere the living spring:
Doom'd like the transient flow'r to blow and fade,
To die like insects with a painted wing.”
The fairest forms which Nature's hand displays,
Which Love inspires and Wisdom's beams illume,
Giv'n were they only to delight our gaze?
For sensual blisses did they only bloom?
Which Love inspires and Wisdom's beams illume,
Giv'n were they only to delight our gaze?
For sensual blisses did they only bloom?
Yet thus the fav'rite bard of Persia sings:
Fame through each city wafts the poet's praise:
'Midst the rude Turk the name of Sadi rings,
The savage Arab softens at his lays.
Fame through each city wafts the poet's praise:
'Midst the rude Turk the name of Sadi rings,
The savage Arab softens at his lays.
22
Sweet swan of Tauris, cease th'unhallow'd song,
No more the Muses' sacred art profane;
Ah! think what praises to the Fair belong,
Whose soft'ning beauty gave the world thy Strain.
No more the Muses' sacred art profane;
Ah! think what praises to the Fair belong,
Whose soft'ning beauty gave the world thy Strain.
Blest in thy numbers which to
Selma flow;
Her smiles alone the melting verse inspire;
Ah! should the blooming nymph her smiles withdraw,
I see thee hapless, and extinct thy fire.
Her smiles alone the melting verse inspire;
Ah! should the blooming nymph her smiles withdraw,
I see thee hapless, and extinct thy fire.
Love learnt thy feeling lines with fond delight,
The lays of Sadi ever grac'd his tongue;
How oft he charm'd the list'ning ear of Night,
And charm'd Night's pale companion with thy song.
The lays of Sadi ever grac'd his tongue;
How oft he charm'd the list'ning ear of Night,
And charm'd Night's pale companion with thy song.
To hear, mute Silence hush'd the darkling vale,
The shaded warbler dropp'd her plaintive tune:
Intent, the pale-ey'd ghost forgot to wail,
And stare despondence on the wandering moon.
The shaded warbler dropp'd her plaintive tune:
Intent, the pale-ey'd ghost forgot to wail,
And stare despondence on the wandering moon.
Thy crown which bloom'd so fresh is blasted now:
That blooming crown which all the muses wove;
Blest on the tender Sadi to bestow
The fairest garland of th'Aonian grove.
That blooming crown which all the muses wove;
Blest on the tender Sadi to bestow
The fairest garland of th'Aonian grove.
23
Displeas'd, the Graces loath thy once-lov'd name,
Offended Beauty spurns thy songs away:
The Muses now their fav'rite bard disclaim,
Despise the poet, and forget his lay.
Offended Beauty spurns thy songs away:
The Muses now their fav'rite bard disclaim,
Despise the poet, and forget his lay.
What virgin now on Sadi's verse shall smile?
What generous youth of Persia's wide domains?
Thy name would now the page of Fame defile,
Now none but Envy shall repeat thy strains.
What generous youth of Persia's wide domains?
Thy name would now the page of Fame defile,
Now none but Envy shall repeat thy strains.
| Persian love elegies | |