[Page 267]

ODE to an AEOLUS's
* This instrument appears to have been invented by KIRCHER: who has given a very accurate description of it in his MUSURGIA. After having been neglected above an hundred years, it was again accidentally discovered by Mr. OSWALD. See Vol. III. p. 4. of this Miscellany.
Harp.

Sent to Miss SHEPHEARD.

By the Same.
1 YES, magic lyre! now all compleat
2 Thy slender frame responsive rings,
3 While kindred notes with undulation sweet
4 Accordant wake from all thy vocal strings.
5 Go then to her, whose soft request
6 Bade my blest hands thy form prepare;
7 Ah go, and sweetly sooth her tender breast
8 With many a warble wild, and artless air.
9 For know, full oft, while o'er the mead
10 Bright June extends her fragrant reign.
11 The Fair shall place thee near her slumb'ring head
12 To court the gales that cool the sultry plain;
13 Then shall the Sylphs, and Sylphids bright,
14 Mild Genii all, to whose high care
15 Her virgin charms are giv'n, in circling flight
16 Skim sportive round thee in the fields of air.
17 Some, flutt'ring 'mid thy trembling strings,
18 Shall catch the rich melodious spoil,
19 And lightly brush thee with their purple wings
20 To aid the zephyrs in their tuneful toil;
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21 While others check each ruder gale,
22 Expel rough Boreas from the sky,
23 Nor let a breeze its heaving breath exhale,
24 Save such as softly pant, and panting die.
25 Then, as thy swelling accents rise,
26 Fair Fancy waking at the sound,
27 Shall paint bright visions on her raptur'd eyes,
28 And waft her spirits to enchanted ground,
29 To myrtle groves, Elysian greens,
30 'Mid which some fav'rite youth shall rove,
31 Shall meet, shall lead her thro' the glitt'ring scenes,
32 And all be music, extacy, and love.

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Title (in Source Edition): ODE to an AEOLUS's Harp. Sent to Miss SHEPHEARD.
Author: William Mason
Themes: imagination; poetry; literature; writing; music
Genres: ode
References: DMI 26243

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Source edition

Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. IV. London: printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley, 1763 [1st ed. 1758], pp. 267-268. 6v.: music; 8⁰. (ESTC T131163; OTA K104099.004) (Page images digitized by the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive from a copy in the archive's library.)

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