The Poetical Works of Elijah Fenton/Kisses. Translated from Secundus

by Elijah Fenton

KISSES. TRANSLATED FROM SECUNDUS.

BASIUM I.

When Venus, in the sweet Idalian shade,
A violet couch for young Ascanius made,
Their op'ning gems th' obedient roses bow'd,
And veil'd his beauties with a damask cloud;
While the bright goddess, with a gentle show'r 5
Of nectar'd dews, perfum'd the blissful bow'r.
 Of sight insatiate, she devours his charms
Till her soft breast rekindling ardour warms;
New joys tumultuous in her bosom roll,
And all Adonis rusheth on her soul: 10
Transported with each dear resembling grace,
She cries, "Adonis!—sure I see thy face!"
Then stoops to clasp the beauteous form, but fears
He'd wake too soon, and with a sigh forbears;
Yet, fix'd in silent rapture, stands to gaze, 15
Kissing each flow'ring bud that round her plays:
Swell'd with her touch, each animated rose
Expands, and straight with warmer purple glows;
Where infant Kisses bloom, a balmy store!
Redoubling all the bliss she felt before. 20
 Sudden her swans career along the skies,
And o'er the globe the fair celestial flies;
Then, as where Ceres pass'd, the teeming plain
Yellow'd with wavy crops of golden grain,
So fruitful Kisses fell where Venus flew, 25
And by the pow'r of genial magic grew,
A plenteous harvest! which she deign'd t'impart
To sooth an agonizing love-sick heart.
All hail, ye roseate Kisses! who remove
Our cares, and cool the calentures of love. 30
Lo! I your poet, in melodious lays
Bless your kind pow'r, enamour'd of your praise;
Lays form'd to last till barb'rous Time invades
The Muses' hill, and withers all their shades.
Sprung from the guardian^[1] of the Roman name,
In Roman numbers live, secure of fame. 36

 

1. Venus.