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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


THE ANACREONTICS: 6 by JACOPO VITTORELLI

First Line: HEAR THOU THE DREAM, O FAITHLESS MAID
Last Line: "NO BETTER HERB TO EASE THY WOE."
Subject(s): HEALING; PAIN; CURES; SUFFERING; MISERY;

HEAR thou the dream, O faithless maid!
Which Fancy yesternight portray'd.
I saw the cavern in whose cells
The sage Alfesibeus dwells.

Alfesibeus—in whose hand
Uprais'd I saw the dusky wand,
Which paler still the pale moon makes,
Which tempest-tost the ocean shakes.

"Father! have pity," thus I cried;
"A rankling wound within my side
I bear, and would from thee obtain
Some magic herb to ease the pain."

Then laugh'd the good old man outright,
And answer made, "Thy cure is flight—
Alfesibeus can bestow
No better herb to ease thy woe."



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