Page:Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics.djvu/119

 Timotheus placed on high

Amid the tuneful quire

With flying fingers touch'd the lyre:

The trembling notes ascend the sky

And heavenly joys inspire.

The song began from Jove

Who left his blissful seats above&mdash;

Such is the power of mighty love!

A dragon's fiery form belied the god;

Sublime on radiant spires he rode

When he to fair Olympia prest,

And while he sought her snowy breast

Then round her slender waist he curl'd,

And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world.

&mdash;The listening crowd admire the lofty sound!

A present deity! they shout around:

A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound!

With ravish'd ears

The monarch hears,

Assumes the god;

Affects to nod

And seems to shake the spheres.

The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musician sung:

Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young:

The jolly god in triumph comes!

Sound the trumpets, beat the drums!

Flush'd with a purple grace

He shows his honest face:

Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes!

Bacchus, ever fair and young,

Drinking joys did first ordain;

Bacchus' blessings are a treasure,

Drinking is the soldier's pleasure:

Rich the treasure

Sweet the pleasure,

Sweet is pleasure after pain.

Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain;

Fought all his battles o'er again,

And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain!