Sappho A Lyrical Drama in Three Acts |
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| 8. | SCENE VIII. |
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 | Sappho |  |
SCENE VIII.
PHAON.
She goes, in hope I should pursue her step
To her stern father's presence; and, with prayer,
And bended knees, and supplicating hands,
Implore a boon, that I can gain without it.
No, Lesbian poetess! Apollo's daughter!
Phaon, whose charms once freely won thy heart,
Disdains the thought. And thou, bright Queen of Love!
Who gav'st me beauty to support thy reign,
Shalt find that gift was not bestow'd in vain.
To her stern father's presence; and, with prayer,
And bended knees, and supplicating hands,
Implore a boon, that I can gain without it.
No, Lesbian poetess! Apollo's daughter!
Phaon, whose charms once freely won thy heart,
Disdains the thought. And thou, bright Queen of Love!
Who gav'st me beauty to support thy reign,
Shalt find that gift was not bestow'd in vain.
From fair to fair in ev'ry isle,
That lifts its forests from the wave,
I'll rove, their beauties to inslave;
The coyly grave,
The freely gay,
Shall each be victims to my smile;
I'll woo them all, perplex, beguile,
Possess, and fling the toys away.
Too long has woman wore the crown,
And rul'd with love's resistless power:
'Tis time, that man should have his hour,
To reign a tyrant in his turn.
So shall the swains, that dayly sigh
With unavailing passion true,
In Phaon their avenger view,
And hail his am'rous victory.
That lifts its forests from the wave,
I'll rove, their beauties to inslave;
The coyly grave,
The freely gay,
Shall each be victims to my smile;
I'll woo them all, perplex, beguile,
Possess, and fling the toys away.
Too long has woman wore the crown,
And rul'd with love's resistless power:
'Tis time, that man should have his hour,
To reign a tyrant in his turn.
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With unavailing passion true,
In Phaon their avenger view,
And hail his am'rous victory.
| Sappho | |