62 ANACREONTICS
TO A SWALLOW. ODE X.
How am I to punish thee, For the wrong thou 'st done to me, Silly swallow, prating thing — Shall I clip that wheeling wing ? Or, as Tereus ^ did, of old, . s
(So the fabled tale is told,) Shall I tear that tongue away, Tongue that utter'd such a lay ? Ah, how thoughtless hast thou been ! Long before the dawn was seen, lo
When a dream came o'er my mind, Picturing her I worship, kind, . Just when I was nearly blest. Loud thy matins broke my rest !
LOVE'S ASSAULT. ODE ΧΙΠ. I will, I will, the conflict 's past. And I '11 consent to love at last. Cupid has long, with smiling art. Invited me to yield my heart ; And I have thought that peace of mind 5
Should not be for a smile resign'd ; And so repell'd the tender lure. And hop'd my heart would sleep secure.
But, slighted in his boasted charms,
The angry infant flew to arms ; 10
He slung his quiver's golden frame,
He took his bow, his shafts of flame,
And piOudly summoned me to yield.
Or meet him on the martial field.
1 Tereus cut out the tongue of his wife's sister, Philomela, to pre- vent her telling the wrong he had done her.