Even them who kept Thy truth so pure of old Forget not in thy book record their groans The vales redoubled to the hills, and they XCVII. TO MR. LAWRENCE. LAWRENCE, of virtuous father virtuous son, From the hard season gaining? Time will run What neat repast shall feast us, light and choice, Warble immortal notes and Tuscan air? 182 CXCVIII. ALEXANDER'S FEAST, OR, THE 'TWAS at the royal feast for Persia won Aloft, in awful state The Godlike hero sate On his imperial throne; His valiant peers were placed around, Their brows with roses and with myrtles bound: (So should desert in arms be crown'd). The lovely Thais, by his side Sate like a blooming eastern bride, In flower of youth and beauty's pride. Happy, happy, happy pair! None but the brave, None but the brave deserves the fair! Timotheus, placed on high Amid the tuneful quire, With flying fingers touch'd the lyre: The song began from Jove, Who left his blissful seats above- Then round her slender waist he curl'd, And stamp'd an image of himself, a sovereign of the world. The listening crowd admire the lofty sound, A present deity! the vaulted roofs rebound. The monarch hears, Assumes the god, Affects to nod, And seems to shake the spheres. The praise of Bacchus, then, the sweet musician sung: Of Bacchus ever fair and ever young. The jolly god in triumph comes; Sound the trumpets, beat the drums! Flush'd with a purple grace He shows his honest face: Now give the hautboys breath; he comes, he comes ! Bacchus, ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain; Bacchus' blessings are a treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure after pain. Soothed with the sound, the king grew vain ; Fought all his battles o'er again ; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain The master saw the madness rise, His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; Soft pity to infuse : He sung Darius great and good, |