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15
The 9th ODE of ANACREON.
ÆTAT. 15.
This rapid flight, through realms above,
Whence, whence, tak'st thou? O lovely dove!
Whence so much fragrance from thy bill
Dost breathe, and from thy wings distil,
Perfuming all the air around?—
And prithee whither art thou bound?
Whence, whence, tak'st thou? O lovely dove!
Whence so much fragrance from thy bill
Dost breathe, and from thy wings distil,
Perfuming all the air around?—
And prithee whither art thou bound?
To Venus once I did belong,
Who sold me for a pretty song:
And now my office is, in brief,
Anacreon's messenger in chief.
Here from my neck, exposed to view,
Depends, thou seest, his billet-doux.
He said, when I set out, that he,
At my return, would set me free.
But should he then dismiss me straight,
Yet I will still upon him wait:
For what would it avail, that I
O'er mountains and o'er fields should fly:
And, on thick trees sublimely plac'd,
Take daily some poor wild repast?
Since now, by fond Anacreon fed,
From his own hand I pick my bread:
And of that wine delicious sip
Which just before had wet his lip.
My thirst then quench'd, my wings I spread,
And hover round my master's head:
And, when with sleep my eyelids close,
Upon his lyre I perch'd repose.
I've told thee all. Begone—I vow
Thou mak'st me prattle like a chough.
Who sold me for a pretty song:
And now my office is, in brief,
Anacreon's messenger in chief.
Here from my neck, exposed to view,
Depends, thou seest, his billet-doux.
He said, when I set out, that he,
At my return, would set me free.
16
Yet I will still upon him wait:
For what would it avail, that I
O'er mountains and o'er fields should fly:
And, on thick trees sublimely plac'd,
Take daily some poor wild repast?
Since now, by fond Anacreon fed,
From his own hand I pick my bread:
And of that wine delicious sip
Which just before had wet his lip.
My thirst then quench'd, my wings I spread,
And hover round my master's head:
And, when with sleep my eyelids close,
Upon his lyre I perch'd repose.
I've told thee all. Begone—I vow
Thou mak'st me prattle like a chough.
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