CUPID AND HYELLA.[AT]
As my Hyella chanced to rove
Of late her garden grounds, and there,
Of roses and white lilies wove
Sweet wreaths to bind her flowing hair;
Amidst the roses clustering thick,
She spied young Cupid slumbering sound,
And with strong chains of woodbine, quick,
The rosy infant, laughing, bound.
At first his radiant wings he flapped
Rebelliously, and strove—in vain—
Indignant to be so entrapped,
To break the verdant bonds in twain.
But when within a little while
Breasts white as Venus's he saw,
And looked in her sweet face, whose smile
The Gods themselves might languish for:
And when from every braided tress
The' ambrosial odours he perceived,—
Rose-odours rich as those which bless
The Arab when his harvest's sheaved:
"Go, go," he cried, "Mamma, and seek
Another Love,—my only shrine
Henceforth shall be this lady's cheek
And laughing eyes: good b'ye to thine."
AL SONNO.
Sonno, che all' affannate, e stanche meuti
D'ogni fatica lor riposo sei,
Deh moviti a pietà de' dolor miei,
E porgi qualche pace a miei tormenti!
Lasso, le notti mie son sì dolenti,
Che quando più riposo aver devrei,
Allor più piango, e mi doglio di lei,
Che sprezza gli angosciosi miei lamenti.
Tu ch' acqueti ogni pena acerba e rea,
Vien, Sonno, ad acquetar i miei martiri;
E vinci quel ch' ogni altro vince, Amore,
Così sempre sian lieti i tuoi desiri;
E il sen della tua bella Pasitea
Sempre spiri d' ambrosia un dolce odore!
TO SLEEP.