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"Who thus assails my doors?" I cry'd; "Who breaks my slumbers?" Love reply'd, "Open; a child alone is here,

"A little child;---you need not fear:
"Here thro' the moonless night I stray,
"And drench'd in rain have lost my way.",
Then, mov'd to pity by his plight,
Too much in haste my lamp I light,.
And open; when a child I see,
A little child he seem'd to me,
Who bore a quiver and a bow,
And wings did to his shoulders grow.
Within the hearth I bid him stand,
Then chafe and cherish either hand
Between my palms, and wring with care
The trickling water from his hair.

"Now come," said he, no longer chill,
"We'll bend this bow and try our skill,-
"And prove the string, how far its pow'r
"Remains unslacken'd by the show'r."

He bends his bow and culls his quiver, And pierces like a breeze my liver; Then leaping, laughing, as he fled, "Rejoice with me, my Host," he said; "My bow is sound in ev'ry part,

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AN HYMN TO VENUS,

FROM THE GREEK OF SAPPHO.

I.

O VENUS! beauty of the skies,

To whom a thousand temples rise,
Gayly false in gentle smiles,
Full of love-perplexing wiles,
O Goddess! from my heart remove
The wasting cares and pains of love.

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If ever thou hast kindly heard
A song in soft distress preferr'd,
Propitious to my tuneful vow,
O gentle Goddess! hear me now.
Descend, thou bright immortal guest!
In all thy radiant charms confest..

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Thou once didst leave almighty Jove,
And all the golden roofs above;
The car thy wanton sparrows drew;
Hov'ring in air they lightly flew ;
As to my bow'r they wing'd their way,
I saw their quivering pinions play.

IV.

The birds dismiss'd (while you remain)
Bore back their empty car again:

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Then you, with looks divinely mild,
In ev'ry heav'nly feature smil'd,
And ask'd what new complaints I made,
And why I call'd you to my aid?

V.

What frenzy in my bosom rag'd,
And by what care to be assuag'd?
What gentle youth I would allure,
Whom in my artful toils secure?
Who does thy tender heart subdue?
Tell me, my Sappho! tell me who?

VI.

Tho' now he shuns thy longing arms,
He soon shall court thy slighted charms;
Tho' now thy off'rings he despise,
He soon to thee shall sacrifice;

Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall burn,
And be thy victim in his turn.

VII.

Celestial Visitant! once more
Thy needful presence I implore:
In pity come and ease my grief,
Bring my distemper'd soul relief;
Favour thy suppliant's hidden fires,

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A FRAGMENT OF SAPPHO.

I.

BLESS'D as th' immortal gods is he,
The youth who fondly sits by thee,
And hears and sees thee all the while
Softly speak and sweetly smile.

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'Twas this depriv'd my soul of rest,
And rais'd such tumults in my breast,
For while I gaz'd, in transport tost,
My breath was gone, my voice was lost.

111.

My bosom glow'd; the subtle flame
Ran quick thro' all my vital frame;
O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung;
My ears with hollow murmurs rung:

IV.

In dewy damps my limbs were chill'd;
My blood with gentle horrors thrill'd;
My feeble pulse forgot to play;
I fainted, sunk, and dy'd away.

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