That on the banks, like many a lovely bride, View'd in the liquid glass their blushing pride;
Whilst on each branch, with purple blossoms hung, The sportful birds their joyous descant sung.
While Maia, thus entranc'd in sweet delight, With each gay object fed her eager sight, The goddess mildly caught her willing hand, And led her trembling o'er the flow'ry land; Soon she beheld where, through an opening glade, A spacious lake its clear expanse display'd; In mazy curls, the flowing jasper wav'd O'er its smooth bed, with polish'd agate pav'd; And on a rock of ice, by magic rais'd, High in the midst a gorgeous palace blaz'd; The sun-beams on the gilded portals glanc'd, Play'd on the spires, and on the turrets danc'd; To four bright gates four ivory bridges led, With pearls illumin'd, and with roses spread : And now, more radiant than the morning sun, Her easy way the gliding goddess won ;
Still by her hand she held the fearful maid, And, as she pass'd, the fairies homage paid : They enter'd, strait, the sumptuous palace-hall *Where silken tapestry emblaz'd the wall,
Refulgent tissue, of an heavenly woof; And gems unnumber'd sparkled on the roof, On whose blue arch the flaming diamonds play'd,
As on a sky with living stars inlay'd;
Of precious diadems a regal store,
With globes and sceptres, strew'd the porphyry floor; Rich vests of eastern kings around were spread, And glittering zones a starry lustre shed: But Maia most admir'd the pearly strings, Gay bracelets, golden chains, and sparkling rings.
High, in the centre of the palace, shone, Suspended in mid air, an opal throne : To this the queen ascends, with royal pride, And sets the favour'd damsel by her side. Around the throne, in mystic order, stand The fairy train, and wait her high command; When thus she speaks: (the maid attentive sips Each word that flows, like nectar, from her lips.)
• Favourite of heaven, my much-lov'd Maia, know, From me all joys, all earthly blessings, flow: Me suppliant men imperial Fortune call, The mighty empress of yon rolling ball :' (She rais'd her finger, and the wondering maid, At distance hung, the dusky globe survey'd ;
Saw the round earth with foaming oceans vein'd, And labouring crouds on mountain tops sustain'd.) • To me has fate the pleasing task assign'd, To rule the various thoughts of human kind; To catch each rising wish, each ardent pray'r, And some to grant, and some to waste in air. Know further, as I rang'd the crystal sky, I saw thee near the murmuring fountain lie; Mark'd the rough storm that gather'd in thy breast, And knew what care thy joyless soul opprest. Strait I resolv'd to bring thee quick relief, Ease every weight, and soften every grief; If in this court contented thou canst live, And taste the joys these happy gardens give:- But fill thy mind with vain desires no more, And view without a wish yon shining store. Soon shall a numerous train before me bend, And kneeling votaries my shrine attend; Warn'd by their empty vanities beware, And scorn the folly of each human prayer.'
She said; and strait a damsel of her train With tender fingers touch'd a golden chain. Now a soft bell delighted Maia hears, That sweetly trembles on her listening ears;
Through the calm air the melting numbers float, And wanton echo lengthens every note. Soon, through the dome, a mingled hum arose, Like a swift stream that o'er a valley flows; Now louder still it grew, and still more loud, As distant thunder breaks the bursting cloud: Through the four portals rush'd a various throng, That like a wintry torrent pour'd along : A crowd, of every tongue and every hue, Toward the bright throne, with eager rapture, flew... A lovely stripling step'd before the rest With hasty pace, and toward the goddess prest; His mien was graceful, and his looks were mild, And in his eye celestial sweetness smild; Youth's purple glow, and beauty's rosy beam, O'er his smooth cheeks diffus'd a lively gleam; The floating ringlets of his musky hair Wav'd on the bosom of the wanton air: With modest grace, the goddess he addrest, And, thoughtless, thus prefer'd his fond request.
Queen of the world! whose wide-extended sway, Gay youth, firm manhood, and cold age, obey, Grant me, while life's fresh blooming roses smile, The day with varied pleasures to beguile;
Let me on beds of dewy flowers recline, And quaff, with glowing lips, the sparkling wine; Grant me to feed on beauty's rifled charms, And clasp a willing damsel in my arms; Her bosom, fairer than a hill of snow, And gently bounding like a playful roe; Her lips, more fragrant than the summer air; And sweet as Scythian musk, her hyacinthine hair; Let new delights each dancing hour employ, Sport follow sport, and joy succeed to joy.'
The goddess grants the simple youth's request,
And, mildly, thus accosts her lovely guest: • On that smooth mirror, full of magic light, Awhile, dear Maia, fix thy wandering sight.' She looks; and in th' enchanted crystal sees A bower o'er-canopied with tufted trees: The wanton stripling lies beneath the shade; And, by his side; reclines a blooming maid; O'er her fair limbs a silken mantle flows, Through which her youthful beauty softly glows, And, part conceal'd and part disclos'd to sight, Through the thin texture casts a ruddy light; As the ripe clusters of the mantling vine Beneath the verdant foliage, faintly shine;
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