Classic Poem

Left alone so long a season,
What! again new warfare rage?
Spare me, Venus, treason! treason!
This is not a lover's age.
Now no more my youthful vigour
Good queen Cynara inspires —
Cease to use thy gentle rigour,
Parent fierce of sweet desires.
Staid, and void of inclination —
Almost fifty — hence depart
To the softer invocation
Of full many a youthful heart.
On more equable condition
Drive your purple swans away,
And put Paulus in commission
At a better time of day.
For he's nobly born, and decent,
Would you fire a worthy breast?
And great instances are recent,
How he pleads for the distrest.
Youth of most accomplish'd merit,
Of an hundred arts and charms —
He shall bear with strength and spirit
Far and wide thy conqu'ring arms.
If he smile at times prevailing
O'er a bribing dupe's disgrace,
With sweet wood thy bust empaling,
He near Alba's lake shall place.
Thine indulgent presence thither
Shall much frankincense invite,
Lyre, and flute, and pipe together
Shall thy ravish'd ears delight.
Twice a day the lads and lasses
There thy praises shall resound,
And with foot that snow surpasses,
Salian like, shall shake the ground.