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55
Address TO WISDOM.
O THOU, the Maid divine,
Whose awe-inspiring shrine
Thine own true Priests with trembling rites approach,
Receive a Suppliant's prayer,
Whose steps unhallowed dare
For once before thine altar to encroach.
Whose awe-inspiring shrine
Thine own true Priests with trembling rites approach,
Receive a Suppliant's prayer,
Whose steps unhallowed dare
For once before thine altar to encroach.
Far from thy ways of truth,
Seduced by Love and Youth,
His devious feet through wanton paths have stray'd;
Yet, hence, reject not now
The weary wanderer's vow,
Nor spurn his sacrifice, transcendant Maid.
Seduced by Love and Youth,
His devious feet through wanton paths have stray'd;
Yet, hence, reject not now
The weary wanderer's vow,
Nor spurn his sacrifice, transcendant Maid.
Permit that in thy fane,
To sooth thy just disdain;
With reverent zeal he fan the vestal fires;
Whereon his scorn may throw
Those subtle shafts and bow,
With which false Love awakes the vain Desires.
To sooth thy just disdain;
With reverent zeal he fan the vestal fires;
Whereon his scorn may throw
Those subtle shafts and bow,
With which false Love awakes the vain Desires.
Then grant, for his resource
'Gainst future tempters, force
The unblunted lance of fortitude to wield;
Or, blue-eyed Virgin, lend
Thy succour, and extend
The sure protection of thy gorgon shield.
'Gainst future tempters, force
The unblunted lance of fortitude to wield;
Or, blue-eyed Virgin, lend
Thy succour, and extend
The sure protection of thy gorgon shield.
Yet never to his heart,
O Maid revered, impart
That awful armour's cold petrific charm:
Change, Goddess, all but this;
But spare pure feeling's bliss:
Turn not to stone a heart by nature warm.
O Maid revered, impart
That awful armour's cold petrific charm:
Change, Goddess, all but this;
But spare pure feeling's bliss:
Turn not to stone a heart by nature warm.
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