AMATORY ODES.

ODE I.

LET 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,

And earth-born light'nings gleam athwart th' infernal shade.

Pride, on thy vesture's purple fold
Let the sky-tinctur'd 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 wint'ry blast

Awakes old ocean's sullen wave
Let Commerce urge her busy slave;
And elevate his trembling mast
Above the billowy precipice,

To meet the forked lightning's flash ;

Then down th' adventurous 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 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 indifference 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 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 unrelenting soul can tame,

Or from his grasp withhold the glorious meed of

Fame:

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, Bridling his wanton speed, my LESBIA's praise to hear.

Where the pale lamp's waining eye,
At ev❜ning from some cloyster'd nook
Casts o'er the gloom 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,

And hear unhallow'd ghosts wail in each hollow blast:

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 unreluctant 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,

Enamour'd of thy touch, each trembling chord com

plains.

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

Hebe, who bids o'erflow the nectar'd cup of Jove,