Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, by MATTHEW PRIOR


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: While from the skies the ruddy sun descends
Last Line: He shall adorn my songs, and tune my voice to love.
Subject(s): Friendship; Love; Singing & Singers; Sun; Youth


AMARYLLIS.

WHILE from the skies the ruddy sun descends,
And rising night the evening shade extends;
While pearly dews o'erspread the fruitful field,
And closing flowers reviving odours yield;
Let us, beneath these spreading trees, recite
What from our hearts our Muses may indite;
Nor need we, in this close retirement, fear,
Lest any swain our amorous secrets hear.

SILVIA.

To every shepherd I would mine proclaim;
Since fair Aminta is my softest theme:
A stranger to the loose delights of love,
My thoughts the nobler warmth of friendship prove;
And, while its pure and sacred fire I sing,
Chaste goddess of the groves, thy succour bring.

AMARYLLIS.

Propitious God of Love, my breast inspire
With all thy charms, with all thy pleasing fire;
Propitious God of Love, thy succour bring,
Whilst I thy darling, thy Alexis sing.
Alexis, as the opening blossoms fair,
Lovely as light, and soft as yielding air.

For him each virgin sighs; and on the plains
The happy youth above each rival reigns.
Nor to the echoing groves, and whispering spring,
In sweeter strains does artful Conon sing;
When loud applauses fill the crowded groves,
And Phoebus the superior song approves.

SILVIA.

Beauteous Aminta is as early light,
Breaking the melancholy shades of night;
When she is near, all anxious trouble flies,
And our reviving hearts confess her eyes.
Young love, and blooming joy, and gay desires,
In every breast the beauteous nymph inspires;
And on the plain when she no more appears,
The plain a dark and gloomy prospect wears.
In vain the streams roll on; the eastern breeze
Dances in vain among the trembling trees;
In vain the birds begin their evening song,
And to the silent night their notes prolong:
Nor groves, nor crystal streams, nor verdant field
Does wonted pleasure in her absence yield.

AMARYLLIS.

And in his absence, all the pensive day,
In some obscure retreat I lonely stray;
All day to the repeating caves complain,
In mournful accents, and a dying strain;
Dear lovely youth, I cry to all around;
Dear lovely youth, the flattering vales resound.

SILVIA.

On flowery banks, by every murmuring stream,
Aminta is my Muse's softest theme;
'Tis she that does my artful notes refine:
With fair Aminta's name my noblest verse shall shine.

AMARYLLIS.

I'll twine fresh garlands for Alexis' brows,
And consecrate to him eternal vows; --
The charming youth shall my Apollo prove;
He shall adorn my songs, and tune my voice to love.





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