Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, DE MELIDORIA, by WILLIAM HAMMOND


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

DE MELIDORIA, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Why languish I, ye gods, alone?
Last Line: And warm her for thyself, not me.


'WHY languish I, ye Gods, alone?
Why only I? when not one groan
Afflicteth her for whom I die:
You mighty powers of Love, oh why
Doth Melidore despise your darts,
And their effects too, bleeding hearts?
If thus, oh Gods, ye suffer her
Unpunished, none will prefer
Your altars; such examples may
Become the ruin of your sway.'

With Venus and her mighty son
Expostulating thus, I won
This answer: 'Alas,' Cupid cries,
'I hood-wink'd am; my closed eyes
Bound with a fillet, that my bow
Can none but roving shafts let go;
Hence 'tis that troops of violent
Youth their misplaced loves resent;
That some love rashly; some again
Congealed are with cold disdain:
Wouldst thou thy mistress, I inspire,
And in her breast convey that fire
Which nature suffers not to find
Birth from thy tears? Do but unbind
My eyes, and I will take such aim,
As she shall not escape my flame.'

Thus spake the boy, my ready hand
Prepared was to loose the band
From his fair eyelids, that his sight
Might to his dart give steady flight;
When my good Genius' prudent ear
Whisper'd to my rash soul, Beware!
Ah, shameless boy, deceitful Love,
I see thy plot: should I remove
Those chains of darkness from thy eyes,
Thou Melidore so much would prize,
That straight my rival thou wouldst be,
And warm her for thyself, not me.





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