‘ 
ee ————————————— 
, POETRY. 
SSS ———— 
ANACREON’S DOVE. 
A translation from the Greek, the completion of which employed De 
_ Johnson fifty-two years. 
Lovexy courier of the ky, 
Whence and whither dost thou fly ? 
Scatt’ring as thy pinions play, 
< Liquid fragrance all the way : 
Is it businefs ? Js it love? 
Tell me, tell me gentle dove. 
€ Soft Anacreon’s vows I bear, 
« Vows to.Myrtale the fair; 
Grac’d. with all that charms the heart; 
Bluthing nature,—smiling art. 
Venus courted by an ode, 
On her bard the dove bestow’d, 
Vested with a master’s right, 
Now Anacreon rules my flight. 
His the letters that you see, 
Weighty charge consign’d to me : 
Think not yet my service hard, 
Joylefs tafk without reward 5 
Smiling at my master’s gates, 
Freedom my return awaits. 
But the liberal grant in vain 
Tempt me to the wild again : 
Can a prudgnt dove decline 
Blifsful bondage such as mine ? 
Over hills and fields to ream, teks 
Fortune’s guest without a home} 
Under leaves to hide one’s head, 
Slightly fhelter’d, coarsely fed; 
Now my better Jot bestows 
Sweet repast, and soft repose 5 
Now the gen’reus bowl Is:p, 
As it leaves Anacreon’s lip ; 
Void of care and free frem dread, 
From his fingers snatch his bread, 
‘Then with luscious pleaty gay, 
Round his chambers dance and play, 
Or from wine as courage springs, 
Over bis face extend my wings, 
And when feast and frolic tire, 
Drop asleep upon his lyre. 
This is all, be quick and go, 
More than a// thou canst zot know 3 
© Let me now my pinions try, 
« I have chatter’d like a pye. 
VOL. Xl, I 4 
Bek A APES rane: > Sey atte - e 
a a * rN Oy APART Ag ANN Ale (0 Ce ON ER OR nA A 
