Classic Poem

Lov'd of the Muse to Venus dear,
My Drummond! lend thy partial ear;
Thou, gifted Bard, canst best explain
The dreams which haunt a poet's brain.
Ere night's bright wain her course had run,
Venus to me, and Venus' son,
Descending in a radiant car,
Rapt from earth, and bore me far;
Sparrow's billing, twittering clear,
Drew us on our swift career;
The lovely goddess, all the while,
Glow'd with pleasure's wanton smile;
O'er her hover'd all the Graces,
Sighs and Kisses, and Embraces:
Around her son, in vesture bright,
Hopes and Murmurs flutter'd light;
With every form of melting bliss,
That breathes or sucks the humid kiss.
Swimming on the moon-beams pale,
Soon we reach'd sweet Tempe's vale:
Zephyrs fluttering o'er the strand,
Bade every glowing flower expand:
While the nightingale on high,
Pour'd her liquid melody.
O'er the level lawn we flew;
The grove's deep shadow round us grew;
Deep within a soft retreat,
Flow'd a spring with murmur sweet.
" Here be all thine offerings done, " —
Softly whisper'd Venus' son:
" Here let clouds of incense rise, " —
Venus whisper'd, " to the skies. "
From the chariot light I sprung,
Shrill the golden axle rung.
Kneeling by the crystal spring,
Every Naiad's charms I sing;
Echo wafts their praises wide,
But chief the Naiads of the tide.
Goddess of the stream attend!
O'er thy wave I suppliant bend;
Grant thy spring may ever be,
Dear to Venus, and to me.
As I bent the waves to kiss,
Murmurs rise of softer bliss;
For the fountain's liquid face,
I feel the tumid nymph's embrace;
Glow and pant my labouring veins,
As her ivory arms she strains;
While the melting kiss she sips,
The soul sits quivering on my lips.
Sudden from our watery bed,
Venus slily smiling fled;
With her sought the shady grove,
The smiling, dimpling God of Love:
Loud through all its dusky bounds,
" Hylas! a second Hylas, " sounds;
While the vision fled in air,
And left the Bard to lone despair.
By every smiling God above,
By the maid you dearest love:
Drummond! to all the Muses dear,
Lend, to thy friend, thy partial ear;
Thou gifted Bard, canst best explain,
Each dream that haunts the poet's brain.