Salmagundi (Huddesford, 1791)/Ode 1
AMATORY ODES.
ODE I.
Let the sons of Lucre pineFor glittering heaps of golden ore,To swell th' accumulated storeContemn the terrors of the mine;Explore the caverns dark and drearMantled around with deadly dew;Where congregated vapours blue,Fir'd by the taper glimmering near,Bid dire explosion the deep realms invade,And earth-born light'nings gleam athwart th' infernal shade.
Pride, on thy vesture's purple foldLet 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,Be Love my empire, Lesbia's heart my throne!
Where into rage the wintry blastAwakes old Ocean's slumbering wave[errata 1]Let Commerce urge her busy slave;And elevate his trembling mastAbove 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,And of their prey defraud the monsters of the deep:
My bark the tide of young desire,O Venus, to thy happy realmShall 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 marinerAnd blast of chill indiff'rence save!So to thy pow'r I'll frame the votive lay,And moor'd in Lesbia's arms confess thy sov'reign sway.
Amid ensanguin'd fields of War,Valour, be thy Votary found;Where crimson banners wave aroundThe martial clarion, echoing far;In vain gigantic Terror callsHis 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,Or from his grasp withhold the glorious meed of Fame.
But let me wander far awayFrom 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'rLet the broad elm and branching pineWith intermingling umbrage twine;There Love's impassion'd song I'll pour,And summon every wave that dances near,Bridling his wanton speed, my Lesbia's praise to hear.
Where the pale lamp's waining eyeAt eve, from out the cloyster'd nookCasts o'er the gloom[errata 2] a lingering look,There let the Sage his labours ply; And many a feat of Champion bold,And many a legendary rhimeSnatch from the Sepulchre of Time;And frequent, as the night grows old,At fear-engender'd forms recoil aghast,And hear unhallow'd ghosts wail in each hollow blast.
But o'er my haunts with influence blandLet ev'ning fling her welcome shade:Then mid the dance, O beauteous maid!Let me thine un-reluctant handEnraptur'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,Enamour'd of thy touch, each trembling chord complains.
Then, Fairest, let my bosom feelThy 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 tideWhen 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 aboveHebe, who bids o'erflow the nectar'd cup of Jove.
Errata