Amatory Odes: Ode I

et the sons of Lucre pine For glittering heaps of golden ore, To swell th' accumulated store Contemn the terrors of the mine; Explore the caverns dark and drear Mantled around with deadly dew; Where congregated vapours blue, Fir'd by the taper glimmering near, Bid dire explosion the deep realms invade,

Pride, on thy vesture's purple fold Let the sky-tinctured sapphire blaze, The emerald shed its milder rays, And rubies blush in circling gold: Low at thy nod let suppliants bow, And crested chiefs precedence yield; Thy hand the rod of empire wield, And wreaths of triumph grace thy brow.— A nobler aim let my ambition own,

Where into rage the wintry blast Awakes old Ocean's Let Commerce urge her busy slave; And elevate his trembling mast Above the billowy precipice, To meet the forked light'ning's flash; Then down th' advent'rous vessel dash, Found'ring within the black abyss: Or let his freight secure the surges sweep,

My bark the tide of young desire, O Venus, to thy happy realm Shall waft, fair Hope direct the helm, Love's sighs the swelling sails inspire: To Thee, bright Offspring of the wave, I'll many an amorous vow prefer: From storms of hate thy mariner And blast of chill indiff'rence save! So to thy pow'r I'll frame the votive lay,

Amid ensanguin'd fields of War, Valour, be thy Votary found; Where crimson banners wave around The martial clarion, echoing far; In vain gigantic Terror calls His spectre shapes, a ghastly band:— Nor Discord, hurling high his brand, Nor Danger's horrid front appals; Nor Death his fierce unconquer'd soul can tame,

But let me wander far away From the loud drum and neighing steed, Thro' many a pansie-painted mead, Where Isis' bright-hair'd Naiads stray; High o'er my head a pendant bow'r Let the broad elm and branching pine With intermingling umbrage twine; There Love's impassion'd song I'll pour, And summon every wave that dances near,

Where the pale lamp's waining eye At eve, from out the cloyster'd nook Casts a lingering look, There let the Sage his labours ply; And many a feat of Champion bold, And many a legendary rhime Snatch from the Sepulchre of Time; And frequent, as the night grows old, At fear-engender'd forms recoil aghast,

But o'er my haunts with influence bland Let ev'ning fling her welcome shade: Then mid the dance, O beauteous maid! Let me thine un-reluctant hand Enraptur'd seize:—or let the Lyre, Obedient to thy soft control, Bind in harmonious chains my soul, And ecstasy and bliss inspire; While to the charmed ear in heav'nly strains,

Then, Fairest, let my bosom feel Thy smile's exhilarating pow'r, Grateful as, mid noon's sultry hour, The Grot where trickling dews congeal: And, in the rich grape's purple tide When Joy and genial Pleasure swim, Do Thou but kiss its chrystal brim, And, to thy bard the goblet guide; So shall my song exalt thy praise above