48 

 THE HYMN OF EROS. 



By the cool banks where soft Cephisus flows, 

 A voice sailed trembling down the waves of air ; 



The leaves blushed brighter in the Teian's rose, 

 The doves couch'd breathless in their summer air ; 



While from their hands the purple flowerets fell, 

 The laughing Hours stood listening in the sky ; — 



From Pan's green cave to iEgle's haunted cell, 

 Heaved the charmed earth in one delicious sigh. 



" Love, sons of earth ! I am the Power of Love, 

 Eldest of all the gods with Chaos bom ; 



My smile sheds light along the courts above. 

 My kisses wake the eyelids of the Mom. 



" Mine are the stars — there, ever as ye gaze 

 Ye meet the deep spell of my haunting eyes; 



Mine is the Moon — and mournful, if her rays, 

 'Tis that she lingers where her Carian lies. 



" The flowers are mine — the blushes of the rose, 

 The violet charming Zephyr to tlie shade ; 



Mine the quick light that in the May-beam glows, 

 Mine every dream that leafs the lonely glade. 



" Love, sons of earth — for love is earth's soft lore. 

 Look where ye will — earth overflows with me : 



Learn from the waves that ever kiss the shore. 

 And the winds nestling on the heaving sea. 



"All teaches love ! " — The sweet voice, like a dream, 

 Melted in light — yet still the airs above, 



The waving sedges and the whispering stream. 



And the green forest mstling — murmured " love ! '' 



From *' The last days of Pompeii." 



G. P. HEARDER, PLYMOUTH. 



