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THE STORY OF PHOEBUS [OR APOLLO] AND DAPHNE APPLIED, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Thyrsis, a youth of the inspired train
Last Line: He catched at love, and filled his arms with bays.
Subject(s): Apollo; Daphne (mythology); Mythology; Mythology - Classical


THYRSIS, a youth of the inspired train,
Fair Sacharissa loved, but loved in vain;
Like Phoebus sung the no less amorous boy;
Like Daphne she, as lovely, and as coy!
With numbers he the flying nymph pursues;
With numbers, such as Phoebus' self might use!
Such is the chase, when Love and Fancy leads,
O'er craggy mountains, and through flowery meads
Invoked to testify the lover's care,
Or form some image of his cruel fair.
Urged with his fury, like a wounded deer,
O'er these he fled; and now approaching near,
Had reached the nymph with his harmonious lay,
Whom all his charms could not incline to stay.
Yet, what he sung in his immortal strain,
Though unsuccessful, was not sung in vain:
All, but the nymph who should redress his wrong,
Attend his passion, and approve his song:
Like Phoebus thus, acquiring unsought praise,
He catched at love, and filled his arms with bays.





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