ARION, an ODE. Sir James Marriott Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 253-255. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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ARION , an ODE . By the Same . I. QUEEN of each sacred sound , sweet child of air , Who sitting thron'd upon the vaulted sky , Dost catch the notes which undulating fly , Oft wafted up to thy exalted sphere , On the soft bosom of each rolling cloud , Charming thy list'ning ear With strains that bid the panting lover die : Or laughing mirth , or tender grief inspire , Or with full chorus loud Which lift our holy hope , or fan the hero's sire : Enchanting Harmony , 'tis thine to cheer The soul by woe which sinks opprest , From sorrow's eye to wipe the tear , And on the bleeding wound to pour the balmy rest . II . 'Twas when the winds were roaring loud , And Ocean swell'd his billows high , By savage hands condemn'd to die , Rais'd on the stem the trembling Lesbian stood ; All pale he heard the tempest blow , As on the watry grave below He fix'd his weeping eye . Ah ! hateful lust of impious gold , What can thy mighty rage with-hold , Deaf to the melting powers of Harmony ! But ere the bard unpitied dies , Again his soothing art he tries , Again he sweeps the strings , Slowly sad the notes arise , While thus in plaintive sounds the sweet musician sings . III . From beneath the coral cave Circled with the silver wave , Where with wreaths of emerald crown'd Ye lead the festive dance around , Daughters of Venus , hear , and save . Ye Tritons , hear , whose blast can swell With mighty sounds the twisted shell ; And you , ye sister Syrens , hear , Ever beauteous , ever sweet , Who lull the list'ning pilot's ear With magic song , and softly breath'd deceit . By all the Gods who subject roll From gushing urns their tribute to the main , By him who bids the winds to roar , By him whose trident shakes the shore , If e'er for you I raise the sacred strain When pious mariners your power adore , Daughters of Nereus , hear and save . IV . He sung , and from the coral cave , Circled with the silver wave , With pitying ear The Nereids hear . Gently the waters flowing , The winds now ceas'd their blowing , In silence listening to his tuneful lay . Around the bark's sea-beaten side , The sacred dolphin play'd , And sportive dash'd the briny tide : The joyous omen soon the bard survey'd , Nor fear'd with bolder leap to try the watry way . On his scaly back now riding , O'er the curling billow gliding , Again with bold triumphant hand He bade the notes aspire , Again to joy attun'd the lyre , Forgot each danger past , and reach'd secure the land .