Then let us anxious thoughts dismiss, ODE XLII. ON HIMSELF. A FRIEND to mirth and harmless sport, 1 The ancient poets all agree in enforcing the necessity of enjoying life, on account of its brevity and uncertainty. Martial says, I'll live to-morrow, none but fools will say: If this be true in the sense in which they meant it, how much more forcibly will it apply to our own altered views and circumstances! 2 Such sentiments as these do honor to the poet, and establish his claim to the title of the wise Anacreon,' From Slander's venom'd tongue I fly, ODE XLIII.-ON THE GRASSHOPPER.2 HAPPY insect! all agree None can be more bless'd than thee; Thou, for joy and pleasure born, Sipp'st the honied dew of morn. Happier than the sceptred king, All thy little eyes explore, Fruits that tempt, and flowers that shine, Happy insect! all are thine. Injuring nothing, blamed by none, 1 Anacreon seems to have esteemed greatest blessing of life: thus, ode 39, are my theme.' tranquillity as the Peaceful pleasures 2 This insect, though called a grasshopper, is certainly of a very different species of locust from that so common in our fields and meadows. Indeed its habit of settling on trees is of itself a sufficient distinction. I am not aware that it has any proper English name, though by some writers it is called the cicada, or cicala. Thee the great Apollo bless'd ODE XLIV.-THE DREAM.3 I DREAM'D, that over earth and sky, 1 The ancient Athenians compared themselves to these insects, either on account of their skill in music, or because like them they were descended from the earth. They likewise wore golden ornaments in their hair, resembling grasshoppers. The Chinese ladies still wear fastened to their heads by springs small golden figures of a bird, the wings of which flutter with the slightest motion. 2 Homer represents the gods as being free from blood; and, speaking of Venus being wounded, he says, From the clear vein a stream immortal flow'd, 3 Madame Dacier says that this is one of the finest and most gallant odes of antiquity, and if she for whom it was composed was as beautiful, all Greece could produce nothing more charming. Its meaning seems to be simply this, that passion suddenly conceived is generally transient and fleeting; but love founded on esteem and regulated by reason, though slow in its approaches, and imperceptible in its growth, makes an impression on the heart at once permanent and indelible. While Love pursued with swiftest pace, ODE XLV.-CUPID'S DARTS. THE rugged mate of love's soft queen The mighty Mars their bus'ness view'd; 1 Lemnos was an island in the Egean sea, sacred to Vulcan, who, in the first book of the Iliad, gives an account of Jupiter's throwing him from heaven, and his fall on that island. Once in your cause I felt his matchless might, Hurl'd headlong downward from th' ethereal height; Nor till the sun descended touch'd the ground: The Sinthians raised me on the Lemnian coast. Pope's Homer. And, leaning on his massy spear,' 'What use,' he cried, with scornful sneer, Mere playthings-only fit for boys?' 'Hold!' Cupid cries, here's one-try this, 'Tis strongly made; and, for its size, 6 Nay, Mars, I give it with good will; ODE XLVI.-THE POWER OF GOLD. A THOUSAND pains we lovers prove,3 1 The proportions of the spear and arrow are finely contrasted. The tiny weapon makes the deeper wound. 2 This sentiment is extremely beautiful; intimating that one cannot even touch the darts of Cupid with safety. Moschus concludes his first idyllium with a similar thought: Perhaps he'll say, 'Alas! no harm I know, Here take my darts, my arrows, and my bow.' Ah! touch them not, fallacious is his aim, His darts, his arrows, all are tipt with flame.-Fawkes. 3 Oh, love! what is it in this world of ours Which makes it fatal to be loved? Ah! why With cypress branches hast thou wreath'd thy bowers, As those who doat on odors pluck the flowers, And place them on their breast-but place to die. Thus the frail beings we would fondly cherish Are laid within our bosoms but to perish. |