Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

A lucky chance, that oft decides the fate
Of mighty monarchs, then decided thine.
For lo! conducted by the laughing loves,
This cool retreat his Musidora sought:
Warm in her cheek the sultry season glow'd;
And, rob'd in loose array, she came to bathe
Her fervent limbs in the refreshing stream.
What shall he do? In sweet confusion lost,
And dubious flutt'rings, he a while remain'd:
A pure ingenuous elegance of soul,

A delicate refinement, known to few,
Perplex'd his breast, and urg'd him to retire:
But love forbade. Ye prudes in virtue, say,
Say, ye severest, what would you have done?
Mean-time, this fairer nymph than ever blest
Arcadian stream, with timid eye around

The banks surveying, stripp'd her beauteous limbs,
To taste the lucid coolness of the flood.
Ah then! not Paris on the piny top
Of Ida panted stronger, when aside

The rival-goddesses the veil divine

Cast unconfin'd, and gave him all their charms, Than, Damon, thou; as from the snowy leg,

And slender foot, th' inverted silk she drew;
As the soft touch dissolv'd the virgin zone;
And, through the parting robe, th'alternate breast,
With youth wild-throbbing, on thy lawless gaze
In full luxuriance rose. But, desp'rate youth,
How durst thou risk the soul-distracting view;
As from her naked limbs, of glowing white,
Harmonious swell'd by nature's finest hand,
In folds loose-floating fell the fainter lawn;
And fair-expos'd she stood, shrunk from herself,
With fancy blushing, at the doubtful breeze
Alarm'd, and starting like the fearful fawn?
Then to the flood she rush'd; the parted flood
Its lovely guest with closing waves receiv'd;
And ev'ry beauty soft'ning, ev'ry grace

Flushing anew, a mellow lustre shed:

As shines the lily through the crystal mild;
Or as the rose amid the morning dew,

Fresh from Aurora's hand, more sweetly glows.
While thus she wanton'd, now beneath the wave
But ill conceal'd; and now with streaming locks,
That half embrac'd her in a humid veil,
Rising again, the latent Damon drew

[graphic][subsumed][merged small]

With wild surprise,

As if to marble struck, devoid of sense?,

A stupid moment

motionless she stood:

Summer

Published 1 December 1801 by F. J. Du Roveray London.

Such madd'ning draughts of beauty to the soul,
As for a while o'erwhelm'd his raptur'd thought
With luxury too daring. Check'd, at last,
By love's respectful modesty, he deem'd
The theft profane, if aught profane to love
Can e'er be deem'd; and, struggling from the shade,
With headlong hurry fled: but first these lines,
Trac'd by his ready pencil, on the bank

With trembling hand he threw: "Bathe on, my fair,

Yet unbeheld save by the sacred eye

Of faithful love: I go to guard thy haunt,

To keep from thy recess each vagrant foot,
And each licentious eye." With wild surprise,
As if to marble struck, devoid of sense,
A stupid moment motionless she stood:

So stands the statue that enchants the world,
So bending tries to veil the matchless boast,
The mingled beauties of exulting Greece.
Recov'ring, swift she flew to find those robes
Which blissful Eden knew not; and, array'd

• The Venus of Medici.

« ForrigeFortsett »