The Third Volume of the Works of Mr. William Congreve containing Poems upon Several Occasions |
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PARAPHRASE UPON HORACE. ODE XIX. LIB. I. |
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 | The Third Volume of the Works of Mr. William Congreve |  |
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PARAPHRASE UPON HORACE. ODE XIX. LIB. I.
Mater sæva Cupidinum, &c.
I.
The Tyrant Queen of soft Desires,With the resistless Aid of sprightly Wine
And wanton Ease, conspires
To make my Heart its Peace resign,
And re-admit Love's long rejected Fires.
For beauteous Glycera I burn,
The Flames so long repell'd with double Force return:
Matchless her Face appears, and shines more bright
Than polish'd Marble when reflecting Light;
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And with a grateful Sullenness she charms:
Each Look darts forth a thousand Rays,
Whose Lustre an unwary Sight betrays,
My Eye-balls swim, and I grow giddy while I gaze.
II.
She comes! she comes! she rushes in my Veins!At once all Venus enters, and at large she reigns!
Cyprus no more with her Abode is blest,
I am her Palace, and her Throne my Breast.
Of Savage Scythian Arms no more I write,
Or Parthian Archers, who in flying fight,
And make rough War their Sport;
Such idle Themes no more can move,
Nor any thing but what's of high Import:
And what's of high Import, but Love?
Vervain and Gums, and the green Turf prepare;
With Wine of two Years old, your Cups be fill'd:
After our Sacrifice and Pray'r,
The Goddess may incline her Heart to yield.
| The Third Volume of the Works of Mr. William Congreve | |