While Argo saw her kindred trees 40 Descend from Pelion to the main : IV. But when thro' all th' infernal bounds, O'er all the dreary coasts! Dreadful gleams, Dismal screams, Fires that glow, Shrieks of woe, Sullen moans, Hollow groans, And cries of tortur'd ghosts! 45 50. 55 60 But, hark! he strikes the golden lyre, Thy stone, O Sisyphus! stands still, Ixion rests upon his wheel, And the pale spectres dance; The Furies sink upon their iron beds, And snakes uncurl'd hang list'ning round their heads. Oh, take the husband, or return the wife! He sung, and Hell consented To hear the poet's pray'r; Stern Proserpine relented, And gave him back the fair. 84 Thus song could prevail O'er death and o'er hell, A conquest how hard and how glorious! Tho' Fate had fast bound her, 90 With Styx nine times round her, Yet music and love were victorious. VI. But soon, too soon, the lover turns his eyes; 95 No crime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love. See, wild as the winds o'er the desert he flies; 110 Hark! Hæmus resounds with the Bacchanals' criesAh see, he dies! Yet ev❜n in death Eurydice he sung, And to her Maker's praise confin'd the sound. 125 130 Of Orpheus now no more let poets tell; His numbers rais'd a shade from hell, Her's lift the soul to heav'n. 134 ODE ON SOLITUDE. Written when the Author was about twelve Years old. HAPPY the man whose wish and care A few paternal acres bound, Content to breathe his native air In his own ground. Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread, Whose flocks supply him with attire, Whose trees in summer yield him shade, In winter fire. Bless'd, who can unconcern'dly find Hours, days, and years, slide soft away, 10 In health of body, peace of mind, Quiet by day. Sound sleep by night; study and ease And innocence, which most does please, 15 Thus let me live, unseen, unknown, Thus unlamented let me die; Steal from the world, and not a stone |