A
HYMN
to
VENUS
,
IN
IMITATION
of
SAPHO
.
VENUS
,
Queen
of
tender
Fires
,
Pleasing
Pains
,
and
soft
Desires
;
Sweet
Enslaver
of
the
Heart
,
Here
thy
gentle
Aid
impart
;
To
my
mourning
Soul
give
Ease
,
And
bid
my
soft
Complainings
cease
.
II
.
Hither
beauteous
Goddess
move
,
Leave
a
while
th'
Idalian
Grove
;
Once
more
to
my
transported
Breast
,
Come
a
mild
,
a
grateful
Guest
;
There
confirm
thy
pleasing
Reign
,
Free
from
Cares
,
and
free
from
Pain
.
III
.
Oh
!
if
e'er
my
artless
Strains
,
By
Thee
inspired
,
breath'd
thy
Pains
;
Propitious
now
thy
Suppliant
hear
,
And
grant
a
Lover's
ardent
Pray'r
?
Ah
!
let
me
not
despairing
mourn
,
But
meet
a
kind
,
a
wish'd
Return
.
IV
.
Make
Philander
feel
my
Pow'r
,
Fear
my
Scorn
,
my
Smiles
adore
,
Let
the
dear
Deceiver
know
,
All
the
Pains
he
can
bestow
:
To
me
that
valued
Heart
resign
,
And
fix
the
lovely
Wand'rer
mine
.