5 These ears, alas! for other notes repine; ODE ON THE DEATH OF A FAVORITE CAT DROWNED IN A TUB OF GOLD FISHES 'TWAS on a lofty vase's side,° Her conscious tail her joy declared; The velvet of her paws, 5 Her coat, that with the tortoise vies, 10 Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes, She saw; and purred applause. Still had she gazed; but midst the tide The Genii of the stream: The hapless nymph with wonder saw: With many an ardent wish, She stretched, in vain, to reach the prize. Presumptuous maid! with looks intent Eight times emerging from the flood, No Dolphin came, no Nereid° stirred; A favorite has no friend! From hence, ye beauties, undeceived, Not all that tempts your wandering eyes THE PROGRESS OF POESY Φωνάντα συνετοῖσιν· ἐς Δὲ τὸ πᾶν ἑρμηνέων Χατίζει. I. 1 PINDAR. OLYMP. II. V. 152. AWAKE, Æolian lyre, awake,° And give to rapture all thy trembling strings. A thousand rills their mazy progress take: Deep, majestic, smooth, and strong, Through verdant dales, and Ceres' golden reign°: Headlong, impetuous, see it pour; 40 5 10 The rocks and nodding groves rebellow to the roar. I. 2 Oh! Sovereign of the willing soul,° Parent of sweet and solemn-breathing airs, And frantic Passions hear thy soft control. C 15 On Thracia's hills the Lord of War° And dropt his thirsty lance at thy command. Of Jove, thy magic lulls the feathered king° Quenched in dark clouds of slumber lie The terror of his beak, and lightnings of his eye. I. 3 Thee the voice, the dance, obey,° The rosy-crowned Loves are seen On Cytherea's day°: With antic Sport, and blue-eyed Pleasures, Now pursuing, now retreating, Now in circling troops they meet: To brisk notes in cadence beating, Glance their many-twinkling feet. 20 25 330 35 Slow melting strains their Queen's approach declare. 40 II. 1 Man's feeble race what ills await! Labor, and Penury, the racks of Pain, And Death, sad refuge from the storms of fate! 45 The fond complaint, my song, disprove, And justify the laws of Jove. Say, has he given in vain the heavenly Muse? Her spectręs wan, and birds of boding cry, Till down the eastern cliffs afar 50 50 Hyperion's march they spy, and glittering shafts of war. II. 2 In climes beyond the solar road,° Where shaggy forms o'er ice-built mountains roam, The Muse has broke the twilight gloom 56 To cheer the shivering native's dull abode. And oft, beneath the odorous shade Of Chili's boundless forests laid, She deigns to hear the savage youth repeat, 60 Their feather-cinctured chiefs, and dusky loves. Glory pursue, and generous Shame, 64 The unconquerable Mind, and freedom's holy flame. |