The Spectator

Front matter

CORNELL

UNIVERSITY

LIBRARY

I. 0 Venus, Beauty of the STdes

To whoin a Thousand Temples rise,

Gayly false in gentle Smiles,

Full of Love perplexing Wiles;

0 Goddess I from m-y Heart remove

The wasting Cares and Pains of Love.

II

If ever thou hast kindly heard A Song in soft Distress pref&^d.

Propitious to my tuneful Vow,

0 gentle Goddess I hear me now.

Descend, thou bright, immortal Guest, In all thy radiant Charms confest.

III. Thou once didst leave Almighty Jove

And all the Golden Roofs above :

The Carr thy wanton Sparrows drew ;

Honoring in Air they lightly flew,

As to my Bower they wing'd their Way :

1 saw their quiv' ring Pinions play.

IV

The Birds dismist {while you remain) Bore back tJieir empty Carr again : Then You, with Looks divinely mild.

In ev'ry heav'nly Feature smil'd, And ask'd what new Complaints I made.

And why I call' d you to my Aid?

V

What Phrenzy in my Bosom rag'd, And by what Care, to be asswag'd ?

What gentle Youth I could allure.

Whom in my artful Toiles secure ?

Who does thy tender Heart subdue.

Tell me, my Sappho, tell me Who ?

VI

Tho^ now he Shuns thy longing Arms, He soon shall court thy slighted Charms ; Thd noav thy Off rings he despise.

He soon to thee shall Sacrifice; Tho' now he freeze, he soon shall bum, And be thy Victim in his turn.