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Poem
August 17, 1769
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Imitation of Anacreon's twentieth ode in which the speaker, inspired by Ovid's myths, desires the power to transform into garments, flowers, and accessories to intimately adorn and accompany his beloved Delia.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
POET'S CORNER
The twentieth ode of Anacreon imitated.
IN Ovid often (as I've read)
Some God would take it in his head,
Without the least offence, to fix
On hapless men his waggish tricks;
Hence these are birds at Jove's command,
And these as marble statues stand:
O Delia, if to me, from Heaven,
That envy'd power of change were given
Adown your back, with graceful pride,
A streaming negligee I'd glide;
A lily 'twixt your breasts I'd lie,
And with their whiteness strive to vie;
Or blushing, like the fragrant rose,
On thy more fragrant bosom repose;
A splendid necklace now I'd shine,
Now round your leg a garter twine;
Now as your shift! but stop, my muse!
Nor stretch too far thy daring views;
Blest shall I be, beyond a man,
To cool my Delia as a fan;
To grace her hand a sparkling stone,
Or glitter on her bright pompon,
A patch to deck her lovely face,
Or else a shoe her feet embrace.
The twentieth ode of Anacreon imitated.
IN Ovid often (as I've read)
Some God would take it in his head,
Without the least offence, to fix
On hapless men his waggish tricks;
Hence these are birds at Jove's command,
And these as marble statues stand:
O Delia, if to me, from Heaven,
That envy'd power of change were given
Adown your back, with graceful pride,
A streaming negligee I'd glide;
A lily 'twixt your breasts I'd lie,
And with their whiteness strive to vie;
Or blushing, like the fragrant rose,
On thy more fragrant bosom repose;
A splendid necklace now I'd shine,
Now round your leg a garter twine;
Now as your shift! but stop, my muse!
Nor stretch too far thy daring views;
Blest shall I be, beyond a man,
To cool my Delia as a fan;
To grace her hand a sparkling stone,
Or glitter on her bright pompon,
A patch to deck her lovely face,
Or else a shoe her feet embrace.
What sub-type of article is it?
Anacreontic
Ode
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
What keywords are associated?
Anacreon Imitation
Delia
Transformation
Love Ode
Ovid Myths
Adornment
Poem Details
Title
The Twentieth Ode Of Anacreon Imitated.
Key Lines
O Delia, If To Me, From Heaven,
That Envy'd Power Of Change Were Given
A Lily 'Twixt Your Breasts I'd Lie,
And With Their Whiteness Strive To Vie;
Blest Shall I Be, Beyond A Man,
To Cool My Delia As A Fan;