Page:Masterpieces of Greek Literature (1902).djvu/97

67 MUSIC AND LOVE 67

The moon, too, quaffs her paly stream

Of lustre, from the solar beam. lo

Then, hence with all your sober thinking !

Since Nature's holy law is drinking;

I '11 make the laws of nature mine.

And pledge the universe in wine.

MUSIC AND LOVE. ODE XXUX I often wish this languid lyre, This warbler of my soul's desire. Could raise the breath of song sublime, To men of fame in former time. But when the soaring theme I try, s

Along the chords my numbers die. And whisper, with dissolving tone, " Our sighs are given to love alone ! " Indignant at the feeble lay, I tore the panting chords away,^ lo

Attun'd them to a nobler swell. And struck again the breathing shell ; ^ In all the glow of epic fire. To Hercules I wake the lyre ; But still its fainting sighs repeat, is

" The tale of love alone is sweet ! " Then fare thee well, seductive dream, That mad'st me follow Glory's theme. For thou my lyre, and thou my heart, Shall never more in spirit part ; 20

And all that one has felt so well The other shall as sweetly tell !

^ I. e., he tried new strings for his lyre.

^ The sounding board of the early lyres was formed of a tortoise- sheU.