Soul-soothing drug! your virtues let me laud,
Which can with sov'reign sway
Force lawless passion into harmless play!
Oft have I owned your pow'r
In many a moody hour,
When grief with viper-tooth my heart hath gnawed.
Still friendly to the plaintive muse,
You can a balm infuse.
If, sick with hopeless love,
Too tenderly I mourn,
You can the shaft of anguish quick remove;
Or make desire's destructive flame less fiercely burn:
Guardian you are of Julia's innocence,
When madd'ning rapture goads to vice my throbbing sense.