 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
126
Hor. Ode 26. Book 3.
IMITATED.
TO VENUS.
I, who was once the Ladies darling Care,
Could freely toy and trifle with the Fair;
Who fondly lov'd, and liv'd the am'rous Day,
In wanton Pleasures driving Care away;
Low sunk in Years, and grown infirm with Age,
Must now retire, and quit the youthful Stage:
No more to Love I tune my warbling Lyre,
No more my Bosom feels it's wonted Fire.
High on the Walls of Venus sacred Shrine,
I'll hang my Lyre, and all my Arms resign;
My useless Scaling-Ropes I'll use no more,
Nor sturdy Clubs to burst the fasten'd Door.
Could freely toy and trifle with the Fair;
Who fondly lov'd, and liv'd the am'rous Day,
In wanton Pleasures driving Care away;
Low sunk in Years, and grown infirm with Age,
Must now retire, and quit the youthful Stage:
No more to Love I tune my warbling Lyre,
No more my Bosom feels it's wonted Fire.
127
I'll hang my Lyre, and all my Arms resign;
My useless Scaling-Ropes I'll use no more,
Nor sturdy Clubs to burst the fasten'd Door.
But oh! may You, Auspicious Queen of Love!
Guardian of Memphis! and the Cyprian Grove!
May You but once exert your Sov'reign Sway,
Make Chloe once your Ruling-Rod obey,
Chloe! that slights the Courteous Lover's Pain,
And haughtily looks down with cold Disdain;
Oh! pierce her tender Soul with fond Desire,
And make her Bosom glow with equal Fire.
Guardian of Memphis! and the Cyprian Grove!
May You but once exert your Sov'reign Sway,
Make Chloe once your Ruling-Rod obey,
Chloe! that slights the Courteous Lover's Pain,
And haughtily looks down with cold Disdain;
Oh! pierce her tender Soul with fond Desire,
And make her Bosom glow with equal Fire.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |