Poems, chiefly pastoral By John Cunningham. The second edition. With the Addition of several pastorals and other pieces |
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SAPHO's HYMN TO VENUS. IMITATED. |
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 | Poems, chiefly pastoral |  |
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SAPHO's HYMN TO VENUS. IMITATED.
I
Hail! (with eternal beauty blest!O'er heav'n and earth ador'd!)
Hail, Venus! 'Tis thy slave's request,
Her peace may be restor'd:
Break the fond bonds, remove the rankling smart,
And bid thy tyrant son from Sapho's soul depart.
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II
Once you descended, Queen of Love,At Sapho's bold desire,
From the high roofs of sacred Jove,
Thy ever glorious sire!
I saw thy dusky pinion'd sparrows bear
Thy chariot, rolling, light, thro' the rejoicing air.
III
No transient visit you design'd,Your wanton birds depart;
And with a look, divinely kind,
That sooth'd my flutt'ring heart:
“Sapho, say you, What sorrow breaks thy rest?
“How can I give relief to thy conflicting breast?
IV
“Is there a youth severely coy,“My fav'rite would subdue?
“Or has she lost some wand'ring boy,
“To plighted vows untrue?
“Spread thy soft nets, the rambler shall return,
“And with new lighted flames, more fond, more fiercely burn.
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V
“Thy profer'd gifts tho' he deride,“And scorn thy glowing charms,
“Soon shall his every art be try'd
“To win thee to his arms:
“Tho' he be now as cold as virgin snow,
“The victim, in his turn, shall like rous'd Ætna glow.”
VI
Thee, Goddess, I again invoke,These mad desires remove!
Again I've felt the furious stroke
Of irresistless Love:
Bid gentle peace to Sapho's breast return,
Or make the youth she loves with mutual ardour burn.
| Poems, chiefly pastoral | |