Satires—Imitations—
AND Sonnets.

by Cornwall Bayley


 

FROM THE GREEK OF MOSCHUS.


1st. To the Evening Star.

    O! Hesperus, fair Venus’ golden light,
The sacred glory of the dawning night; [Page 41]
Less than the moon, yet fairer than the stars,
O! hail! and since that setting moon debars,
Her blaze—bestow thy more propitious ray,
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To whose fair influence yields the closing day.
I come not thus with false—designing soul,
The nightly wand’rers musings to controul;
But thou art Venus,—thou my love can’st see;
And love allures me to converse with thee!
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2d. Cupid turn’d Ploughboy.

    His wanted torch and arrows cast away,
Cupid usurp’d the ploughboy’s rude array;
Coupled his oxen in the rustic chain,
And strew’d his harvest o’er the fertile plain;
Then cried (whilst smiling on the heav’ns above)
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“Burn up these vales of Ceres, mighty Jove;
“Lest you yourself Europa’s bull should bow,
“Ere long beneath my unresisted plough! [Page 42]