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112
HYMN TO VENUS.
I
Fair goddess! with blue laughing eyes,In thy gold dove-drawn car descend,
Lovely as when unclouded skies
Above thy beauteous brow did bend,—
When Zephyr, rising to attend,
Flew round thy auburn-waving head,
While fragrant flowerets rose to blend
Their richest hues of white and red
O'er cheeks where young love-dimples spread.
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II
Goddess, descend! fair as when thouFell on thy loved Adonis' breast
With all that mellowed rosy glow,
Which on thy cheek was wont to rest,
When Love flew by, and thou wert blest;
The while thy snowy bosom rose
Like some white bird within its nest,
Lifting its crest of blossomed sloes,
And fluttering into soft repose.
III
Descend upon thy cloud of flowers,And all around their sweets diffuse,
Fragrant as amaranthine bowers,
Where sandalled feet reflect their hues;
And Mars, amid the heavenly dews,
Flushed with ambrosia, giveth chase—
When thou, retiring, dost refuse,
Gliding with half-averted face,
And followed by each blushing Grace.
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III
Descend, as on Olympus' brow,When all the gods to love were driven,—
When by thy cheek's rose-mantled glow,
Each great immortal heart was riven,
As if in thee they'd found a heaven
In which alone they could be blest:
While thy love-smile to all was given
Ere one thy honeyed lips had prest,
Or sunk upon thy pearl-flushed breast.
IV
Descend, as when on Ida's hill,Thou there didst win the golden prize,
And blushing Paris caused to thrill
'Neath thy sublime blue-glancing eyes,
Soft rolling as the starry skies—
When through the cloudy silver sweeping,
Like a young May-morn thou dost rise;
And from the blue-veiled darkness peeping,
Gazest upon the ocean sleeping.
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V
Goddess divine! it is to theeAll thanks for love and bliss we owe;
Beauty thou dost to those decree
Who at thy flowery altar bow,
And to thee offer up their vow.
From thy star-throne thou then wilt bend,
And wreathe new beauties round the brow
Of such as love thee. Now attend!
And on thy shrine, once more, descend!
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