Pindar and Anacreon/Anacreon/Ode 18

by Anacreon

ODE XVIII.—ON THE SAME SUBJECT.^[1]

Dear artist, take this silver store,
And try thy skilful hand once more;
Produce a large and handsome bowl
To charm my eyes, and cheer my soul.
Around its polish'd surface bring
The flowery pride of purple spring;
There let the soft and vernal hours
Shed rosy sweets in plenteous showers.
Engrave no foreign mystic rite,
No marv'lous tale that shocks the sight;
But draw the gen'rous god of wine,
Blithe Bacchus, son of Jove divine.
Let Venus, love's sweet smiling queen,
With youthful Hymen deck the scene:
His dread artillery laid aside,
Let Cupid mid the Graces glide,^[2]
As in the sprightly dance they join
Beneath the high-imbowering vine,
Whose glowing clusters peep between
The foliage bright of glossy green.
With these a youthful group display,
As fair as Phœbus, god of day,
Though Phœbus join not in their play.^[3]

1. The subject of this ode is the same as that of the preceding.
2. "It is not without reason that Anacreon, after having mentioned Venus, introduces Love among the Graces, being sensible that though beauty alone might please, yet, without the aid of other charms, it could not long captivate the heart." Fawkes.
3. This apparently alludes to the fable of Hyacinthus, a youth slain by Apollo while playing with him at quoits.