On golden heaps with scorn I frown; To bathe my beard with sweet perfumes,' To crown my brows with spring's fresh blooms; And dash the goblet from thy lip. the queen's discovering the affront; who next morning sent for Gyges, and resolutely told him he must either suffer immediate death for what he had done, or despatch Candaules, and take her and the kingdom of Lydia for his recompense. The choice was difficult, as he greatly valued his master: however, the love of life prevailed: he stabbed Candaules, married the queen, and took possession of the kingdom. 1 The Turks and Persians take a particular pride in this venerable appendage, and consume much time in dressing and perfuming it. 2 It was usual among the ancients to appoint a master of the feast by the cast of dice, whose office was to determine the size and number of the cups, and to decide on the proper ceremonies. ODE XVI.-THE CAPTIVE. SOME sing of Thebes, and some prolong1 2 Sigh o'er my wounds, and count my scars. Of conqu❜ring fleets no slave am I, And dart their fires from Pyrrha's eyes! ODE XVII.—ON A SILVER BOWL. MULCIBER, thou skilful wright, 1 Anacreon here alludes to the famous war waged by the seven captains against Eteocles, king of Thebes, in order to restore to his brother Polynices his share in the government, according to their agreement on their father's death to reign annually in turn. On this subject Eschylus has written a tragedy, and Statius a noble poem called the Thebaid. 2 The poet here alludes to the numerous instances in which he had been brought under the dominion of love. Grave not there the northern wain,1 Boötes, or the Pleiades ; What concern have I with these? ODE XVIII.-ON THE SAME SUBJECT.3 DEAR artist, take this silver store, To charm my eyes, and cheer my soul. 1 The author here alludes to the emblazoning of the shi of Achilles as described in the eighteenth book of the Ilia There shone the image of the master mind; There earth-there heaven-there ocean he design'd; The starry lights that heaven's high convex crown'd; To which around the axle of the sky Pope's Homer's Iliad 2 The Greek term signifies hateful,' and is used by poet, because the constellation Orion was considered forerunner of tempests, and therefore dreaded by mariner 3 The subject of this ode is the same as that of the p ceding. Around its polish'd surface bring No marv'llous tale that shocks the sight; Let Cupid midst the Graces glide,' ODE XIX.-REASONS FOR DRINKING. THE earth drinks up the genial rains 1 'It is not without reason that Anacreon, after having mentioned Venus, introduces Love among the Graces, being sensible that though beauty alone might please, yet without the aid of other charms it could not long captivate the heart." Fawkes. 2 This apparently alludes to the fable of Hyacinthus, a youth slain by Apollo while playing with him at quoits. 3 The poet here refers to the supply of moisture which trees receive by means of their roots and fibres. Th' insatiate sea imbibes, each hour,' ODE XX.-TO HIS MISTRESS. ON desert Phrygia's silent sands And Pandion's injured child, we know, That thou might'st always smile on me. 1 This passage, which seems to have given the commentators some trouble, is by many supposed to be an error in the text. I have followed the usual reading, though I think Fawkes' amendment very judicious. He has it the sea drinks up the rivers,' certainly a much more natural idea. 2 The moon is said to drink from the sun, because she borrows her light from that luminary. 3 Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus, king of Phrygia, and wife of Amphion, king of Thebes; by whom, according to Homer, having six sons and six daughters, she became so proud of her offspring and high birth, that she had the vanity to prefer herself to Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana; who, to revenge the affront offered to their parent, in one day slew all her children: on which Niobe was struck dumb with grief, and remained stupid. For that reason the poets have feigned her to be turned into a stone.-See Ovid's Met. book vi. 4 The poet here alludes to the fabled transformation of Philomela. See note 1, p. 15. |