Classic Poem

BASIUM I .

When Venus, in the sweet Idalian shade,
A violet couch for young Ascanius made,
Their op'ning gems th' obedient roses bow'd,
And veil'd his beauties with a damask cloud;
While the bright goddess, with a gentle show'r
Of nectar'd dews, perfum'd the blissful bow'r.
Of sight insatiate, she devours his charms
Till her soft breast rekindling ardour warms;
New joys tumultuous in her bosom roll,
And all Adonis rusheth on her soul:
Transported with each dear resembling grace,
She cries, " Adonis! — sure I see thy face! "
Then stoops to clasp the beauteous form, but fears
He'd wake too soon, and with a sigh forbears;
Yet, fix'd in silent rapture, stands to gaze,
Kissing each flow'ring bud that round her plays:
Swell'd with her touch, each animated rose
Expands, and straight with warmer purple glows;
Where infant Kisses bloom, a balmy store!
Redoubling all the bliss she felt before.
Sudden her swans career along the skies,
And o'er the globe the fair celestial flies;
Then, as where Ceres pass'd, the teeming plain
Yellow'd with wavy crops of golden grain,
So fruitful Kisses fell where Venus flew,
And by the pow'r of genial magic grew,
A plenteous harvest! which she deign'd t' impart
To sooth an agonizing love-sick heart.
All hail, ye roseate Kisses! who remove
Our cares, and cool the calentures of love.
Lo! I your poet, in melodious lays
Bless your kind pow'r, enamour'd of your praise;
Lays form'd to last till barb'rous Time invades
The Muses' hill, and withers all their shades.
Sprung from the guardian of the Roman name,
In Roman numbers live, secure of fame.

BASIUM II. TRANSLATED .

As the young enamour'd vine
Round her elm delights to twine,
As the clasping ivy throws
Round her oak her wanton boughs,
So close, expanding all thy charms,
Fold me, my Chloris! in thy arms;
Closer, my Chloris! could it be,
Would my fond arms incircle thee.
The jovial friend shall tempt in vain
With humour, wit, and brisk Champaigne;
In vain shall Nature call for sleep,
We'll Love's eternal vigils keep:
Thus, thus for ever let us lie,
Dissolving in excess of joy,
Till Fate shall with a single dart
Transfix the pair it cannot part.
Thus join'd, we'll fleet like Venus' doves,
And seek the bless'd Elysian groves,
Where Spring in rosy triumph reigns
Perpetual o'er the joyous plains;
There lovers of heroic name
Revive their long-extinguish'd flame,
And o'er the fragrane vale advance
In shining pomp to form the dance,
Or sing of Love and gay Desire,
Responsive to the warbling lyre,
Reclining soft in blissful bow'rs,
Purpled sweet with springing flow'rs,
And cover'd with a silken shade
Of laurel mix'd with myrtle made,
Where, slaunting in immortal bloom,
The musk-rose scents the verdant gloom,
Thro' which the whisp'ring zephyrs fly
Softer than a virgin's sigh.
When we approach those bless'd retreats,
Th' assembly straight will leave their seats,
Admiring much the matchless pair,
So fond the youth, the nymph so fair!
Daughters and mistresses to Jove,
By Homer fam'd of old for love,
In homage to the British Grace,
Will give pre-eminence of place:
Helen herself will soon agree
To rise, and yield her rank to thee.