Lovely courier of the sky,
Whence and whither dost thou fly?
Scattering, as thy pinions play,
Liquid fragrance all the way:
Is it business? is it love?
Tell me, tell me, gentle dove.
‘Soft Anacreon’s vows I bear,
Vows to Myrtale the fair;
Graced with all that charms the heart,
Blushing nature, smiling art.
Venus, courted by an ode,
On the bard her dove bestow’d:
Vested with a master’s right,
Now Anacreon rules my flight;
His the letters that you see,
Weighty charge, consign’d to me:
Think not yet my service hard,
Joyless task without reward;
Smiling at my master’s gates,
Freedom my return awaits;
But the liberal grant in vain
Tempts me to be wild again.
Can a prudent dove decline
Blissful bondage such as mine?
Over hills and fields to roam,
Fortune’s guest without a home;
Under leaves to hide one’s head,
Slightly shelter’d, coarsely fed:
Now my better lot bestows
Sweet repast and soft repose;
Now the generous bowl I sip,
As it leaves Anacreon’s lip:
Void of care, and free from dread,
From his fingers snatch his bread,
Then with luscious plenty gay,
Round his chamber dance and play;
OR from wine as courage springs,
O’er his face extend my wings;
And when feast and frolic tire
Drop asleep upon his lyre.
This is all, be quick and go,
More than all thou canst not know;
Let me now my pinions ply,
I have chatter’d like a pye.’
(Samuel Johnson)
More Poetry from Samuel Johnson:
Samuel Johnson Poems based on Topics: Love, Nature, Art, Fate & Destiny, Charity, Letters, Business & Commerce, Liberty & Freedom, Smiling, Fairness, Moderation & Temperance- Gnothi Seauton (Samuel Johnson Poems)
- Drury-lane Prologue Spoken by Mr. Garrick (Samuel Johnson Poems)
- Epitaph on Sir Thomas Hanmer, Bart. (Samuel Johnson Poems)
- Autumn (Samuel Johnson Poems)
- Inspiration (Samuel Johnson Poems)
- Horace: Book IV. Ode 7 (Samuel Johnson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Nature Poems, Fairness Poems, Home Poems, Smiling Poems, Art Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Charity Poems, Liberty & Freedom Poems, Business & Commerce Poems, Hospitality PoemsBased on Keywords: courier, pye, coarsely, myrtale