INVOCATION
by: William Drummond (1585-1649)
- HBUS, arise!
- And paint the sable skies
- With azure, white, and red;
- Rouse Memnon's mother from her Tithon's bed,
- That she thy càreer may with roses spread;
- The nightingales thy coming each-where sing;
- Make an eternal spring!
- Give life to this dark world which lieth dead;
- Spread forth thy golden hair
- In larger locks than thou wast wont before,
- And emperor-like decore
- With diadem of pearl thy temples fair:
- Chase hence the ugly night
- Which serves but to make dear thy glorious light.
- This is that happy morn,
- That day, long wishèd day
- Of all my life so dark
- (If cruel stars have not my ruin sworn
- And fates not hope betray),
- Which, only white, deserves
- a diamond for ever should it mark:
- This is the morn should bring into this grove
- My Love, to hear and recompense my love.
- Fair King, who all preserves,
- But show thy blushing beams,
- And thou two sweeter eyes
- Shalt see than those which by Penèus' streams
- Did once thy heart surprise:
- Nay, suns, which shine as clear
- As thou when two thou did to Rome appear.
- Now, Flora, deck thyself in fairest guise:
- If that ye, winds, would hear
- A voice surpassing far Amphion's lyre,
- Your stormy chiding stay;
- Let zephyr only breathe
- And with her tresses play,
- Kissing sometimes these purple ports of death.
- The winds all silent are;
- And Phbus in his chair
- Ensaffroning sea and air
- Makes vanish every star:
- Night like a drunkard reels
- Beyond the hills so shun his flaming wheels:
- The fields with flowers are deck'd in every hue,
- The clouds bespangle with bright gold their blue:
- Here is the pleasant place--
- And everything, save Her, who all should grace.
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POEMS BY WILLIAM DRUMMOND |
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