"The Poet's Corner..."

 

"Sapho's Ode Out of Longinus"

                                

    THE Gods are not more blest than he, 

    Who fixing his glad Eyes on thee, 

    With thy bright Rays his Senses cheers, 

    And drinks with ever thirsty ears. 

    The charming Music of thy Tongue, 

    Does ever hear, and ever long; 

    That sees with more than humane Grace, 

    Sweet smiles adorn thy Angel Face.

    

        But when with kinder beams you shine, 

    And so appear much more divine, 

    My feeble sense and dazzled sight, 

    No more support the glorious light, 

    And the fierce Torrent of Delight. 

    Oh! then I feel my Life decay, 

    My ravish'd Soul then flies away, 

    Then Faintness does my Limbs surprize, 

    And Darkness swims before my Eyes.

        Then my Tongue fails, and from my Brow 

    The liquid drops in silence flow, 

    Then wand'ring Fires run through my Blood, 

    And Cold binds up the stupid Flood, 

    All pale, and breathless then I lye, 

    I sigh, I tremble, and I dye.