THE VENUS VICTRIX OF CANOVA. 33 



Immortal statue ! while we gaze, thy form 



Seems flexile and awaking into life 



By some Promethean mystery : life, true 



As that of thy bright youth, dividing love 



With beautiful Adonis, Paphos' pride : 



Ah ! it was pretty to behold thee twine 



Thy snowy arms around his graceful neck. 



And touch with delicate hand his downy cheek, 



Reclining on his bosom ; thy sweet face, 



For which the Olympians pined, up-looking while 



With pity's tender eloquence and eyes 

 That streamed in soft affection, thou wouldst save 

 The beautiful hunter from his forest chase : 

 — Bold youth, to care so little for those tears. 



So little for that warning, as to dare 

 The foaming monster of Macaria's woods 

 And die ! 



Thou smilest, graceful Queen ; 'twas such a smile 



Illumed thy way to Jupiter's domain, 



Where the Elysian Ruler kneeled and sighed 



To win thy beauty ; it was such a smile 



As softened, with a glance, the fiery Mars, 



And changed his dark frowns to beseeching looks, 



While he forgot the tumult of the field 



Where he was used to triumph, and, enslaved 



Before thy fascination, bowed in love. 



For such a smile the young Anchises long 



Strayed in the groves of Ida, when the day 



Was drooping into ocean, and thy star. 



The silver Hesper, from its rosy heaven, 



Shone with thy coming. 



Illustrious Canova I surely thou, 



By thy creations of the beautiful, 



The graceful, the voluptuous, the grand. 



Hast won thyself a glory near to those 



Commanding spirits of immortal fame, 



Athenian Phidias, and the one who wrought 



So well for Cnidus ; higher too, perchance. 



Did we not view their master efforts* linked 



How often is the eye of the observer guided by prevailing opinions. 



Goethe. 

 VOL. II.— 1833. E 



