Ode 32. An Occasional Prelude of the Poet to His Songs
AN OCCASIONAL PRELUDE OF THE POET TO HIS SONGS .
They have called for a lay that for ages abiding,
Bids Echo its music through years to prolong;
Then wake, Latin lyre! Since my country takes pride in
Thy wild native harmony, wake to my song.
'Twas Alcæus, a minstrel of Greece, who first married
The tones of the voice to the thrill of the chord;
O'er the waves of the sea the loved symbol he carried,
Nor relinquished the lyre though he wielded the sword.
Gay Bacchus, the Muses, with Cupid he chanted
—The boy who accompanies Venus the fair—
And he told o'er again how for Lyca he panted,
With her bonny black eyes and her dark flowing hair.
'Tis the pride of Apollo—he glories to rank it,
Amid his bright attributes, foremost of all:
'Tis the solace of life! Even Jove to his banquet
Invites thee!—O lyre! ever wake to my call.
They have called for a lay that for ages abiding,
Bids Echo its music through years to prolong;
Then wake, Latin lyre! Since my country takes pride in
Thy wild native harmony, wake to my song.
'Twas Alcæus, a minstrel of Greece, who first married
The tones of the voice to the thrill of the chord;
O'er the waves of the sea the loved symbol he carried,
Nor relinquished the lyre though he wielded the sword.
Gay Bacchus, the Muses, with Cupid he chanted
—The boy who accompanies Venus the fair—
And he told o'er again how for Lyca he panted,
With her bonny black eyes and her dark flowing hair.
'Tis the pride of Apollo—he glories to rank it,
Amid his bright attributes, foremost of all:
'Tis the solace of life! Even Jove to his banquet
Invites thee!—O lyre! ever wake to my call.
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