[Hymeneal]Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771Alexander HuberEditorGöttingen State and University Library, University of GöttingenHistoric BuildingPapendiek 14D-37073 GöttingenGermanyThomas Gray ArchiveTaylor Institution LibrarySt Giles'Oxford OX1 3NAUKinfo@thomasgray.orghttps://www.thomasgray.org/OxfordThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.Gratulatio... (Cambridge, 1736)
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[Hymeneal]
Ignarae nostrum mentes, et inertia corda,Dum curas regum, et Sortem miseramur iniquam,Quae Solio affixit, vetuitque calescere flammaDulci, quae dono Divum, gratissima serpitViscera per, mollesque animis lene implicat aestus;Nec teneros sensus, Veneris nec praemia norunt,Eloquiumve oculi, aut facunda silentia linguae: Scilicet ignorant lacrymas, saevosque dolores,Dura rudimenta, et violentae exordia flammae;Scilicet ignorant, quae flumine tinxit amaroTela Venus, caecique armamentaria Divi,Irasque, insidiasque, et tacitum sub pectore vulnus;Namque sub ingressu, primoque in limine AmorisLuctus et ultrices posuere cubilia Curae;Intus habent dulces Risus, et Gratia sedem,Et roseis resupina toris, roseo ore Voluptas:Regibus huc faciles aditus; communia spernuntOstia, jamque expers duris custodibus istisPanditur accessus, penetraliaque intima Templi. Tuque Oh! Angliacis, Princeps, spes optima regnis,Ne tantum, ne finge metum; quid imagine captusHaeres, et mentem pictura pascis inani?Umbram miraris: nec longum tempus, et IpsaIbit in amplexus, thalamosque ornabit ovantes.Ille tamen tabulis inhians longum haurit amorem,Affatu fruitur tacito, auscultatque tacentemImmemor artificis calami, risumque, ruboremqueAspicit in fucis, pictaeque in virginis ore:Tanta Venus potuit; tantus tenet error amantes. Nascere, magna Dies, qua sese Augusta BritannoCommittat Pelago, patriamque relinquat amoenam;Cujus in adventum jam nunc tria regna secundosAttolli in plausus, dulcique accensa furoreIncipiunt agitare modos, et carmina dicunt:Ipse animo sedenim juvenis comitatur euntem,Explorat ventos, atque auribus aera captat,Atque auras, atque astra vocat crudelia; pectusIntentum exultat, surgitque arrecta cupido;Incusat spes aegra fretum, solitoque videturLatior effundi pontus, fluctusque morantes. Nascere, Lux major, qua sese Augusta BritannoCommittat juveni totam, propriamque dicabit;At citius (precor) Oh! cedas melioribus astris:Nox finem pompae, finemque imponere curisPossit, et in thalamos furtim deducere nuptam;Sufficiat requiemque viris, et amantibus umbras:Adsit Hymen, et subridens cum matre CupidoAccedant, sternantque toros, ignemque ministrent;Ilicet haud pictae incandescit imagine formaeUlterius juvenis, verumque agnoscit amorem. Sculptile sicut ebur, faciemque arsisse venustamPygmaliona canunt; ante hanc suspiria ducit,Alloquiturque amens, flammamque et vulnera narrat;Implorata Venus jussit cum vivere signum,Foemineam inspirans animam; quae gaudia surgunt,Audiit ut primae nascentia murmura linguae,Luctari in vitam, et paulatim volvere ocellosSedulus, aspexitque nova splendescere flamma;Corripit amplexu vivam, jamque oscula jungitAcria confestim, recipitque rapitque; priorisImmemor ardoris, Nymphaeque oblitus eburneae.