Classic Poem

LIB . II. Ode IV.— CLASSICAL LOVE MATCHES .

Odeem not thy love for a captive maid
Doth, Phoceus, the heart of a Roman degrade!
Like the noble Achilles, 'tis simply, simply,
With a “Briseis” thou sharest thy bed.

Ajax of Telamon did the same,
Felt in his bosom a Phrygian flame;
Taught to contemn none, King Agamemnon
Fond of a Trojan slave became.
Such was the rule with the Greeks of old,
When they had conquer'd the foe's stronghold;
When gallant Hector—Troy's protector—
Falling, the knell of Ilion toll'd.

Why deem her origin vile and base?
Canst thou her pedigree fairly trace?
Yellow-hair'd Phyllis, slave tho' she be, still is
The last, perhaps, of a royal race.

Birth tOdemeanour will sure respond—
Phyllis is faithful, Phyllis is fond:
Gold cannot buy her—then why deny her
A rank the basely born beyond?

Phyllis hath limbs divinely wrought,
Features and figure without a fault…
Do not feel jealous, friend, when a fellow's
Fortieth year forbids the thought!