Sappho
, they may here see it in its genuine and natural Beauty, without any foreign or affected Ornaments.
An Hymn to Venus
| I | O Venus, Beauty of the Skies, To whom a Thousand Temples rise, Gayly false in gentle Smiles, Full of Love's perplexing Wiles; O Goddess! from my Heart remove The wasting Cares and Pains of Love. |
| II | If ever thou hast kindly heard A Song in soft Distress preferr'd, Propitious to my tuneful Vow, O gentle Goddess! hear me now. Descend, thou bright, immortal Guest, In all thy radiant Charms confest. |
| III | Thou once didst leave Almighty Jove, And all the Golden Roofs above: The Carr thy wanton Sparrows drew; Hov'ring in Air they lightly flew, As to my Bower they wing'd their Way: I saw their quiv'ring Pinions play. |
| IV | The Birds dismist (while you remain) Bore back their empty Carr again: Then You, with Looks divinely mild, In ev'ry heav'nly Feature smil'd, And ask'd what new Complaints I made, And why I call'd you to my Aid? |
| V | What Phrenzy in my Bosom rag'd, And by what Care to be asswag'd? What gentle Youth I could allure, Whom in my artful Toiles secure? Who does thy tender Heart subdue, Tell me, my Sappho, tell me Who? |
| VI | Tho' now he Shuns thy longing Arms, He soon shall court thy slighted Charms; Tho' now thy Off'rings he despise, He soon to thee shall Sacrifice; Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall burn, And be thy Victim in his turn. |
| VII | Celestial Visitant, once more Thy needful Presence I implore! In Pity come and ease my Grief, Bring my distemper'd Soul Relief; Favour thy Suppliant's hidden Fires, And give me All my Heart desires. |
Madam
Dacier
observes, there is something very pretty in that Circumstance of this Ode, wherein
Venus