The Poetical Works of John Langhorne ... To which are prefixed, Memoirs of the Author by his Son the Rev. J. T. Langhorne ... In Two Volumes |
 | I. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| v. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
|
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
HYMENEAL.
|
|
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
 | The Poetical Works of John Langhorne |  |
121
HYMENEAL.
ON THE MARRIAGE OF HIS PRESENT MAJESTY.
Awake, thou everlasting lyre!
That once the mighty Pindar strung,
When wrapt with more than mortal fire,
The gods of Greece he sung! Awake!
Arrest the rapid foot of Time again
With liquid notes of joy, and pleasure's melting strain.
That once the mighty Pindar strung,
When wrapt with more than mortal fire,
The gods of Greece he sung! Awake!
Arrest the rapid foot of Time again
With liquid notes of joy, and pleasure's melting strain.
Crown'd with each beauteous flower that blows
On Acidalia's tuneful side;
With all Aonia's rosy pride,
Where numerous Aganippe flows;
From Thespian groves and fountains wild,
Come, thou yellow-vested boy,
Redolent of youth and joy,
Fair Urania's favour'd child!
George to thee devotes the day:
To Hymen, haste away!
On Acidalia's tuneful side;
With all Aonia's rosy pride,
Where numerous Aganippe flows;
From Thespian groves and fountains wild,
Come, thou yellow-vested boy,
Redolent of youth and joy,
Fair Urania's favour'd child!
George to thee devotes the day:
To Hymen, haste away!
122
Daughter of the genial main!
Queen of youth and rosy smiles,
Queen of dimple dwelling wiles;
Come with all thy Paphian train:
O, give the fair that blooms for Britain's throne,
Thy melting charms of love, thy soul-enchanting zone!
Queen of youth and rosy smiles,
Queen of dimple dwelling wiles;
Come with all thy Paphian train:
O, give the fair that blooms for Britain's throne,
Thy melting charms of love, thy soul-enchanting zone!
Daughter of the genial main!
Bring that heart-dissolving power,
Which once in Ida's sacred bower
The soul of Jove oppos'd in vain:
The sire of gods thy conqu'ring charms confess'd;
And, vanquish'd, sunk, sunk down on Juno's fost'ring breast.
Bring that heart-dissolving power,
Which once in Ida's sacred bower
The soul of Jove oppos'd in vain:
The sire of gods thy conqu'ring charms confess'd;
And, vanquish'd, sunk, sunk down on Juno's fost'ring breast.
She comes, the conscious sea subsides;
Old Ocean curbs his thund'ring tides:
Smooth the silken surface lies,
Where Venus' flow'ry chariot flies:
Paphian airs in ambush sleep
On the still bosom of the deep;
Paphian maids around her more,
Keen-ey'd Hope, and Joy, and Love:
Their rosy breasts a thousand Cupids lave,
And dip their wanton wings, and beat the buxom wave.
Old Ocean curbs his thund'ring tides:
Smooth the silken surface lies,
Where Venus' flow'ry chariot flies:
Paphian airs in ambush sleep
On the still bosom of the deep;
Paphian maids around her more,
Keen-ey'd Hope, and Joy, and Love:
Their rosy breasts a thousand Cupids lave,
And dip their wanton wings, and beat the buxom wave.
But mark, of more than vulgar mien,
With regal grace and radiant eye,
A form in youthful majesty!
Britain, hail thy favour'd queen!
For her the conscious sea subsides;
Old Ocean curbs his thund'ring tides,
O'er the glassy bosom'd main
Venus leads her laughing train;
The Paphian maids move graceful by her side,
And o'er the buxom waves the rosy Cupids ride.
With regal grace and radiant eye,
A form in youthful majesty!
Britain, hail thy favour'd queen!
123
Old Ocean curbs his thund'ring tides,
O'er the glassy bosom'd main
Venus leads her laughing train;
The Paphian maids move graceful by her side,
And o'er the buxom waves the rosy Cupids ride.
Fly, ye fairy-footed hours!
Fly, with aromatic flowers!
Such as bath'd in orient dews,
Beauty's living glow diffuse;
Such as in Idalia's grove
Breathe the sweets, the soul of love!
Fly, with aromatic flowers!
Such as bath'd in orient dews,
Beauty's living glow diffuse;
Such as in Idalia's grove
Breathe the sweets, the soul of love!
Come, genial god of chaste delight,
With wreathes of festive roses crown'd,
And torch that burns with radiance bright,
And lib'ral robe that sweeps the ground!
Bring the days of golden joy,
Pleasures pure, that never cloy!
Bring to Britain's happy pair,
All that's kind, and good, and fair!
George to thee devotes the day:
To Hymen, haste away.
With wreathes of festive roses crown'd,
And torch that burns with radiance bright,
And lib'ral robe that sweeps the ground!
Bring the days of golden joy,
Pleasures pure, that never cloy!
Bring to Britain's happy pair,
All that's kind, and good, and fair!
George to thee devotes the day:
To Hymen, haste away.
Daughters of Jove! ye virgins sage,
That wait on Camus' hoary age;
That oft his winding vales along
Have smooth'd your silver-woven song;
O wake once more those lays sublime,
That live beyond the wrecks of time!
To crown your Albion's boasted pair,
The never-fading wreath prepare;
While her rocks echo to this grateful strain,
“The friends of freedom and of Britain's reign.”
That wait on Camus' hoary age;
That oft his winding vales along
Have smooth'd your silver-woven song;
124
That live beyond the wrecks of time!
To crown your Albion's boasted pair,
The never-fading wreath prepare;
While her rocks echo to this grateful strain,
“The friends of freedom and of Britain's reign.”
| The Poetical Works of John Langhorne | |