When sea-born Venus guided o'er Her warrior to the Punic shore, Around that radiant head she threw In deep'ning clouds ambrosial dew: But when the Tyrian queen drew near, The light pour'd round him fresh and clear. Ill-starr'd Elissa! hence arose Her faithless joys, her stedfast woes, Sighs, that with life alone expire, And flames that light the funeral pyre. O Goddess! if that peerless maid Thou hast with every grace array'd, Must, listening to thy gentle voice, Fix at first view th' eternal choice .. Suspend the cloud before her eyes Until some godlike man arise; One of such wisdom that he knows How much he wins, how much he owes; One in whose breast united lie Calm courage and firm constancy; Whose genius makes the world his own, Whose glory rests in her alone. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: JOHN CABANIS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE VALSE by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR A SEA DIALOGUE by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ENVOY, TO 'MORE SONGS FROM VAGABONDIA' by RICHARD HOVEY THE SONG OF HIAWATHA: PICTURE-WRITING by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW HOME, SWEET HOME, FR. CLARI, THE MAID OF MILAN by JOHN HOWARD PAYNE |