Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave None but the brave None but the brave deserves the fair! Timotheus placed on high Amid the tuneful quire With flying fingers touch'd the lyre: And while he sought her snowy breast; Then round her slender waist he curl'd, And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. -The listening crowd admire the lofty sound! A present deity! they shout around : A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound! With ravish'd ears The monarch hears, Assumes the god, Affects to nod And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung— Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young: The jolly god in triumph comes! Sound the trumpets, beat the drums! Flush'd with a purple grace He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain; Rich the treasure Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o'er again, And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain! The master saw the madness rise, His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; Soft pity to infuse : He sung Darius great and good, Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen, -With downcast looks the joyless victor sate, Revolving in his alter'd soul The various turns of Chance below; The mighty master smiled to see Lovely Thais sits beside thee, Take the good the gods provide thee! -The many rend the skies with loud applause; Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sigh'd and look'd, sigh'd and look'd, At length with love and wine at once opprest Now strike the golden lyre again : And rouse him like a rattling peal of thunder. Has raised up his head: As awaked from the dead And amazed he stares around. Revenge, revenge, Timotheus cries, See the Furies arise!' See the snakes that they rear How they hiss in their hair, And the sparkles that flash from their eyes! Behold a ghastly band Each a torch in his hand! Those are Grecian ghosts, that in battle were slain And unburied remain Inglorious on the plain: Give the vengeance due To the valiant crew! Behold how they toss their torches on Ligh, The princes applaud with a furious joy: And the King seized a flambeau with zeal to destroy; Thais led the way To light him to his prey, And like another Helen, fired another Troy! Could swell the soul to rage, or kindle soft desire. At last divine Cecilia came, Inventress of the vocal frame; The sweet enthusiast from her sacred store Enlarged the former narrow bounds, And added length to solemn sounds, With Nature's mother-wit, and arts unknown before. -Let old Timotheus yield the prize Or both divide the crown; He raised a mortal to the skies; She drew an angel down! J. DRYDEN. THE PASSIONATE SHEPHERD COME live with me and be my love, And we will sit upon the rocks, And I will make thee beds of roses A gown made of the finest wool, |