ncontroll'd
Curbs the bright birds that breast the air,
As flames the sovereign crown of gold
Amidst the ambrosial waves of hair--
Ev'n thou, fair Queen of Heaven's high throne,
Hast Love's subduing sweetness known;
From all her state, the Great One bends
To charm the Olympian's bright embraces,
The Heart-Enthraller only lends
The rapture-cestus of the Graces!

Blessed through love are the Gods above--
Through love like a God may man be;
Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,
Through love like a heaven earth can be!

Love can sun the Realms of Night--
Orcus owns the magic might--
Peaceful where She sits beside,
Smiles the swart King on his Bride;
Hell feels the smile in sudden light--
Love can sun the Realms of Night.
Heavenly o'er the startled Hell,
Holy, where the Accursed dwell,
O Thracian, went thy silver song!
Grim Minos, with unconscious tears,
Melts into mercy as he hears--
The serpents in Megara's hair,
Kiss, as they wreathe enamour'd there;
All harmless rests the madding thong;--
From the torn breast the Vulture mute
Flies, scared before the charmed lute--
Lull'd into sighing from their roar
The dark waves woo the listening shore--
Listening the Thracian's silver song!--
Love was the Thracian's silver song!

Blessed through love are the Gods above--
Through love like a God may man be;
Heavenlier through love is the heaven above--
Through love like a heaven earth can be!

Through Nature blossom-strewing,
_One_ footstep we are viewing,
One flash from golden pinions!--
If from Heaven's starry sea,
If from the moonlit sky;
If from the Sun's dominions,
Look'd not Love's laughing eye;
Then Sun and Moon and Stars would be
Alike, without one smile for me!
But, oh, wherever Nature lives
Below, around, above--
Her happy eye the mirror gives
To thy glad beauty, Love!

Love sighs through brooklets silver-clear,
Love bids their murmur woo the vale;
Listen, O list! Love's soul ye hear
In his own earnest nightingale.
No sound from Nature ever stirs,
But Love's sweet voice is heard with hers!
Bold Wisdom, with her sunlit eye,
Retreats when love comes whispering by--
For Wisdom's weak to love!
To victor stern or mon