Phenix Gazette

ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP.

Friendship and Love one day together found
Two altars on Calabria's sunny ground:
The one to Friendship raised, where art and taste
Its every part had diligently graced;
Around its base were glowing clusters thrown
Of bursting grapes that Aulon's vines had grown;
Whilst that to Love was but a simple stone,
With "Ad Cupidini" traced there alone.
"Behold!" said Friendship, with exalted brow,
"Who claims the mortal's homage most, Love now?
Mark the proportions of this classic shrine.
Whilst yonder scarce hewn stone, alas! is thine;
Around me see the vine's enlivening birth,
The fruit of heaven, though the growth of earth,
That o'er the soul by goading cares oppressed,
Can shed a spell-work that decrees it blessed;
Whilst thou art honored with one tasteless flower,
That is at most the bauble of an hour."
"I envy not," Love in return replied,
"The gay adornments of thine altar's side,
Nor all the gifts which scattered round I see,
To thy shrine offered only—not to thee.
A lowly altar mine, and such should be
The mortal's offering to his Deity;
Whilst this sweet rose, of him an emblem true
Who placed it here, expires where it grew;
Nay, frown not, Friendship; if we disagree.
And wrangle on, what, prithee, shall we be?
Without thee I must as a meteor shine,
Too fierce my passion, and too frigid thine;
But wisely mingling in one generous flame,
We both are worshipped, honored, prized the same.