FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87  
88   89   90   91   >>  
ift as wind flies over us Time, devouring, slaying. Where are, oh! those goblets full Of wine honey-laden, Strifes and loves and bountiful Lips of ruddy maiden? Grows the young grape tenderly, And the maid is growing; But the thirsty poet, see, Years on him are snowing! What's the use on hoary curls Of the bays undying. If we may not kiss the girls, Drink while time's a-flying? The second consists of a truly brilliant development of the theme which our Herrick condensed into one splendid phrase--"There's no lust like to poetry!" THERE'S NO LUST LIKE TO POETRY. No. 49. Sweet in goodly fellowship Tastes red wine and rare O! But to kiss a girl's ripe lip Is a gift more fair O! Yet a gift more sweet, more fine, Is the lyre of Maro! While these three good gifts were mine, I'd not change with Pharaoh. Bacchus wakes within my breast Love and love's desire, Venus comes and stirs the blessed Rage of Phoebus' fire; Deathless honour is our due From the laurelled sire: Woe should I turn traitor to Wine and love and lyre! Should a tyrant rise and say, "Give up wine!" I'd do it; "Love no girls!" I would obey, Though my heart should rue it. "Dash thy lyre!" suppose he saith, Naught should bring me to it; "Yield thy lyre or die!" my breath, Dying, should thrill through it! A lyric of the elder period in praise of wine and love, which forcibly illustrates the contempt felt by the student class for the unlettered laity and boors, shall be inserted here. It seems to demand a tune. WINE AND VENUS. No. 50. Ho, comrades mine! What is your pleasure? What business fine Or mirthful measure? Lo, Venus toward our crew advancing, A choir of Dryads round her dancing! Good fellows you! The time is jolly! Earth springs anew, Bans melancholy; Bid long farewell to winter weather! Let lads and maids be blithe together. Dame Venus spurns Her brother Ocean; To Bacchus turns; No colder potion Deserves her godhead's approbation; On sober souls she pours damnation. Let then this band, Imbued with learning, By Venus st
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   63   64   65   66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87  
88   89   90   91   >>  



Top keywords:
Bacchus
 

demand

 

student

 

inserted

 

unlettered

 
contempt
 
suppose
 

Though

 

Naught

 
period

praise

 

forcibly

 
thrill
 

breath

 

illustrates

 
business
 

brother

 
potion
 

colder

 
spurns

weather

 

blithe

 

Deserves

 
godhead
 
Imbued
 

learning

 

damnation

 
approbation
 
winter
 

farewell


measure

 
mirthful
 

advancing

 

comrades

 
pleasure
 

Dryads

 

springs

 

melancholy

 

dancing

 
fellows

Deathless

 
flying
 

undying

 

consists

 

phrase

 

splendid

 

development

 

brilliant

 

Herrick

 
condensed