Poems on Various Subjects (Coleridge)/Effusion 27

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

EFFUSION XXVII.

AS late each flower that sweetest blows
I pluck'd, the Garden's pride!
Within the petals of a Rose
A sleeping Love I 'spied.

Around his brows a beamy wreath
Of many a lucent hue;
All purple glow'd his cheek, beneath,
Inebriate with the dew.

I softly seiz'd th' unguarded Power,
Nor scar'd his balmy rest;
And plac'd him, cag'd within the flower,
On spotless Sara's breast.

But when unweeting of the guile
Awoke the pris'ner sweet,
He struggled to escape awhile
And stamp'd his færy feet.

Ah! soon the soul-entrancing sight
Subdued th' impatient boy!
He gaz'd! he thrill'd with deep delight!
Then clapp'd his wings for Joy.

And ô! he cried—"Of magic kind
"What charms this Throne endear!
Some other Love let Venus find——
I'll fix my empire here."