 | Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 |  |
31
VULCAN AND HYMEN.
Vulcan once for Hymen forged
A chain of wondrous power;
Who twined each magic link around
With many a beauteous flower;
On frolic bent, then hastily
He left the God of Fire,
And in it caught one sunny morn
Young Love and warm desire.
Pleaséd awhile in mirthful mood,
The thoughtless couple sported;
So fragrant breathed the flowery band,
They e'en its pressure courted;
Till Time came by, and with his scythe
Cut through the wreaths around them,
Which drooped and died, and left to view
The iron chain that bound them.
A chain of wondrous power;
Who twined each magic link around
With many a beauteous flower;
On frolic bent, then hastily
He left the God of Fire,
And in it caught one sunny morn
Young Love and warm desire.
Pleaséd awhile in mirthful mood,
The thoughtless couple sported;
So fragrant breathed the flowery band,
They e'en its pressure courted;
Till Time came by, and with his scythe
Cut through the wreaths around them,
Which drooped and died, and left to view
The iron chain that bound them.
Scaréd at the cheerless sight
Of bands and roses blighted,
Desire stole the wings of Love,
And fled away affrighted.
Who, left alone, not long could bear
The links 'neath which he smarted,
Essayed in vain to snap the chain,
Then perished broken-hearted.
Hymen, weeping, Vulcan sought,
And of Love's fate apprised him;
Who o'er his smithy smiling bent,
And calmly thus advised him:
“Oh! had your chain but been of gold,
Though every flower had faded,
The glittering links had pleased as much
As when with roses shaded.”
Of bands and roses blighted,
Desire stole the wings of Love,
And fled away affrighted.
32
The links 'neath which he smarted,
Essayed in vain to snap the chain,
Then perished broken-hearted.
Hymen, weeping, Vulcan sought,
And of Love's fate apprised him;
Who o'er his smithy smiling bent,
And calmly thus advised him:
“Oh! had your chain but been of gold,
Though every flower had faded,
The glittering links had pleased as much
As when with roses shaded.”
| Songs and Poems from 1819 to 1879 | |