Thus old Romano bowed to Raphael's fame, O that your brows my laurel had sustained! But now, not I, but poetry, is curst, For Tom the second reigns like Tom the first. Time, place, and action may with pains be wrought; 60 Heav'n, that but once was prodigal before, Maintain your post; that's all the fame you need, 65 To Shakespeare gave as much; she could not give him more. For 't is impossible you should proceed. 70 75 ALEXANDER'S FEAST; OR, THE POWER OF MUSIC A SONG IN HONOUR OF ST. CECILIA'S DAY, 1697 I 'T was at the royal feast for Persia won By Philip's warlike son: The godlike hero sate His valiant peers were placed around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound The lovely Thais, by his side, Timotheus, placed on high Amid the tuneful quire, With flying fingers touched the lyre; The trembling notes ascend the sky, Sublime on radiant spires he rode, 20 25 309 5 And stamped an image of himself, a sov'reign of the world. The list'ning crowd admire the lofty sound: "A present deity!" they shout around: "A present deity!" the vaulted roofs rebound. With ravished ears The monarch hears; Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres. CHORUS With ravished ears The monarch hears; Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres. III 35 40 45 The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung, The jolly god in triumph comes: Sound the trumpets, beat the drums! He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath! he comes, he comes! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain : Bacchus' blessings are a treasure; Drinking is the soldier's pleasure; Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. CHORUS Bacchus' blessings are a treasure; Drinking is the soldier's pleasure; Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. IV Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain, Fought all his battles o'er again, And thrice he routed all his foes and thrice he slew the slain. The master saw the madness rise, And while he heaven and earth defied, He sung Darius great and good, Fallen, fallen, fallen fallen, And welt'ring in his blood; By those his former bounty fed, With downcast looks the joyless victor sate, With not a friend to close his eyes. 85 The various turns of chance below; And now and then a sigh he stole, And tears began to flow. CHORUS Revolving in his altered soul The various turns of chance below; And now and then a sigh he stole, And tears began to flow. V The mighty master smiled to see For pity melts the mind to love. 90 95 Honour but an empty bubble, Never ending, still beginning, If the world be worth thy winning, Lovely Thais sits beside thee; Take the good the gods provide thee." The many rend the skies with loud applause; Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sighed and looked, sighed and looked, 100 105 ΠΙΟ At length, with love and wine at once oppressed, 115 CHORUS The prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sighed and looked, sighed and looked, 120 At length, with love and wine at once oppressed, VI Now strike the golden lyre again, A louder yet, and yet a louder strain: Break his bands of sleep asunder, 125 And rouse him, like a rattling peal of thunder! |