|
SEE yonder hill, so green, so round, | |
Its brow with ambient beeches crowned! | |
Twould well become thy gentle care | |
To raise a dome to Venus there: | |
Pleasd would the nymphs thy zeal survey; | 5 |
And Venus, in their arms, repay. | |
Twas such a shade, and such a nook | |
In such a vale, near such a brook, | |
From such a rocky fragment springing, | |
That famed Apollo chose, to sing in. | 10 |
There let an altar wrought with art | |
Engage thy tuneful patrons heart, | |
How charming there to muse and warble | |
Beneath his bust of breathing marble! | |
With laurel wreath and mimic lyre | 15 |
That crown a poets vast desire. | |
Then, near it, scoop the vaulted cell | |
Where Musics charming maids may dwell; | |
Prone to indulge thy tender passion, | |
And make thee many an assignation. | 20 |
Deep in the groves obscure retreat | |
Be placed Minervas sacred seat; | |
There let her awful turrets rise | |
(For Wisdom flies from vulgar eyes:) | |
There her calm dictates shalt thou hear | 25 |
Distinctly strike thy listening ear: | |
And who would shun the pleasing labour | |
To have Minerva for his neighbour? * * * * * | |
But did the Muses haunt his cell? | |
Or in his dome did Venus dwell? | 30 |
Did Pallas in his counsels share? | |
The Delian god reward his prayer? | |
Or did his zeal engage the fair? | |
When all the structures shone complete | |
Not much convenient, wondrous neat; | 35 |
Adorned with gilding, painting, planting, | |
And the fair guests alone were wanting. | |
Ah me! (twas Damons own confession) | |
Came Poverty and took possession. | |
|