Exhaust th' imaginary vase, Fair forms in faultering measures chase, Catch from bright eyes th' ecstatic beam, And of ideal transports dream. Divine Enchantress, FANCY! deign Each grateful scene of past delight! Sweet dalliance let me hold with thee, O deign to cheer my humble cell! Thence grave Parochial Cares expel: Shield me from swathed Infants' scream, And clouds of suffocating steam, That from the Gossip's bowl exhale, Mix'd with tobacco's potent gale! From Undertakers' gloomy brows, Shield me from puritanic cant Of Faded Maids, who matins haunt, And many an opiate Inference! Shield me from sounds at strife with sense! From Pedantry of formal port, And Consequence in cassoc short! So, Goddess, thy propitious smile To blend her simple blooms with thine; If WYATT's plaudit crown her lays, C AMATORY ODES. ODE I. LET the sons of Lucre pine For glittering heaps of golden ore, To swell th' accumulated store 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 fold 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:- my throne! Where into rage the wint'ry blast To meet the forked lightning's flash ; Then down th' adventurous vessel dash, 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, |