Classic Poem

The Muses, by your favour blest,
Fair Queen, invite you to their feast.
The Graces will rejoice, and sue,
Since so excell'd, to wait on you.
Ambrosia taste, which frees from death;
And nectar, fragrant as your breath,
By Hebe fill'd; who states the prime
Of youth, and brails the wings of Time.
Here in Adonis' gardens grow
What neither age nor winter know.
The Boy, with whom Love seem'd to die,
Bleeds in this pale Anemony.
Self-lov'd Narcissus in the mirror
Of your fair eyes now sees his error,
And from the flattering fountain turns.
The Hyacinth no longer mourns.
This Heliotrope, which did pursue
Th' adored Sun, converts to you.
These statues touch, and they again
Will from cold marble change to men.
Chaste Daphne bends her virgin boughs,
And twines to embrace your sacred brows.
Their tops the Paphian Myrtles move,
Saluting you their Queen of Love.
Myrrha, who weeps for her offence,
Presents her tears; her frankincense
Leucothoi; the Heliades
Their amber: yet you need not these.
They all retain their sense, and throng.
To hear the Thracian poet's song.
How would they, should you sing, admire!
Neglect his skill, as he his lyre!
Contending nightingales, struck mute,
Drop down, and die upon your lute!
The Phaenix, from the glowing East,
With sweets here builds her tomb and nest:
Another Phaenix seen, she dies,
Burnt into ashes by your eyes!
This Swan, which in Penius swims,
His funeral songs converts to hymns.
These azure-plum'd Halcyones,
Whose birth controls the raging seas,
To your sweet union yield the praise
Of nuptial loves, of peaceful days.
Nymph, take this quiver and this bow,
Diana such in shape and show,
When with her star-like train she crowns
Eurotas' banks or Cynthus' downs.
There chase the Calydonian Boar:
Here see Actaeon fly before
His eager Hounds. Wild herds will stand
At gaze, nor fear so fair a hand.
There be who our delights despise,
As shadows and vain phantasies.
Those sons of earth, inthrall'd to sense,
Condemn what is our excellence.
The air, immortal souls, the skies,
The angels in their hierarchies,
Unseen, to all things seen dispense
Bread, life, protection, influence.
Our high conceptions crave a mind
From earth and ignorance refin'd;
Crown virtue; fortune's pride control;
Raise objects equal to the soul:
At will create; eternity
Bestow on mortals born to die.
Yet we, who life to others give,
Fair Queen, would by your favour live.