Johann Peter Uz [pp. 35-37]

SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER.
compelled to resort to stratagemi to fulfil his plurpose.
One of the swains entices the fair Seliinda into a pavilion, and Love, disguLi.ed as his sersvant, drives by a
magnificent equiipae. By tlis des ice the atentlioii of
thle lady is distracted, the protecting sprite taken by
surprise, and an unseen dart from the deity accoimplishles the victory.
The followinug ve.ses describe the abode of Cupid at
Paphlos. TIlie oiginal i in rhlyme, blt we will not
couifine ourlselves to tl.at in a close version.
"It w-as ti- I'1olr of ioon; langulislAed the herds,
Lani,lisled tile grss upton tihe par,ched earth
Red Sir:us reiged, in all his burning might,
Tli st mlany a braiii dotlh craze, and dothli create
Fi Imany' a basd. Tl-e god of Love, sswith bowv
Relaixe, wvithl browsv displeased, and listless miei,
Pigli Paphos folded his uniweaied wing;ll
Besicle.lti a love consecrtated wood
RIutlled at zepiyr's blireatli; the trysting place
Ofjy-te home of ever new delight.
it bliss perennilal roved the guests along
Thle sheltere, v inii pa hs; where in thick gloom
The blya.ad l nivitrle twit edl their votise vwreatls,
And fi-omi alI sicdes calledi the sveet nigihtingale.
I-Io iuimre d ca younl,g ibiook; tlhere headlong riushed
A ctlaract; tle fosinam white stream-s descending
Flio)a ilsti hsill, and croNvding to a lake
Ailtlere flose-cs looked on their mirrored imiages,
Tien soft green turf, the ientle gloom created
By cltsterilg foliage, hlee to teliderness
Inviteif all. Deep silence ave kept guard
Before tiis h1oly w-0ood, w-lclics ever lovsely
With golden st shine, n0ow'nieath cooling leaves
WVelcomed tLe bhy-od, on whose burning brows
'Wreatlls of pale, faded loses hng. Aiound him
In playfuli c ireies daiced a restless lband
Of sp t's-and Flatte y soft, and gentle I-lope,
Yeoicl in thin gauze, and Passion, and Deceit,
And all the chloir of losves."
Tile parti:ng of Cupid firom the embrace of Pleasure
to go upon his errand, is thus described.
So spake he; and from Pleasule's soft lap sprang,
Ncor swithol it ecfhft'- fiom ier arims away
Teaing him 1sl So Hectr to the fight
Hasteined fioom Pria;'s wt ills, and when the sad
Andlomachoe held lback hnis arm, imploriugNot without grief, but as a hero parted,
And fi-om h ter tender breast to victory flewv.
Around Love's wa ist the well filled ctuiver hung,
The golden bow in his victorious hand
*Vaved tlireateiiniigly; theln soro he on hIis flight,
Andi at their lord's beihest his fblloswer,
Vitli himi forsook tie vales and woods of Cyprus.
MIeanrlwshile aroiund him ouentle zephyrs play,
And cool the hot air wis' thoeir )almty svins.
WVhere'er Love flesw, the lihe-arts of mortals beat
*Vitih iniccuistomied thir oi -and warmer gushed
Thle accelerateid!Icodl. TPe sigling swain
Moulrned loud!ier o'ei his; and deenre oatlis
Of true faithl saw ore-upon the breezes lavished
No comimoii victory stays the impatient god;
He seeks Selinda-bhing, Seiinda war."
,Ve shall conclude our notice of this poet, by extracting some of his miinor poems, each in a different style.
TO THE LYRIC MUSE.
WVlIitlier, 0 whlither bears isuwonited fire
lMy spirit in its (larinig lyric flighlt,
Far fiomi thiese lower stlre-a ms,
To green Parnassian lihiis and fountains sriglit?
Prond~~y T qllit tl~~e collfilles of the eart ~ 1
Proudly I quit the confines of' the eatrtli,
To sweep untr~d'leii paths on high
How pants, surpassed, belieid,
The bird of Jove, abaslhed to see mie niglh!
[ii 1hease,nly r veions, itere nmy ralcturous oar
Dinlis ini tlie iuit 0c of tile si)llei'Cd hiost,
O, muse! be tl.ou imy guide, tu iliw 0hose free wsing
So far hlas strayed, l'e'er iin tlose rmalzes lost.
I followv tlhee-nioav upalrid to tl-he sn,
N,ow wau-derlini, in ultSrocldecn forests drear,
WiThli Libler's votive iamlies,
Wliere ne'er tihe iuses coime- -ihere othlerstars aippear.
Lel by tliy lacnd, when blitlie Liceu(s calls,
1, Vlut caniI the terrors of thle b-ard awvake?
iNo! i soie distant cleft
Shall my lyre's joy the sleep of eclao breal.
Only the touchl of Pleasure lakes my strings They miurnir foirtli no doleful lIly,
But chlant of' ivarlike clenmor, elashigl arms,
And victory in bloodcly, wild array.
EBst, wvith a proud dellit
Thy hero's brosw with laurels didst thou twvine;
Wraipt in thy high embl)race,
Drinkiiit tlhe inspiring draiigiit-forcever thence to sline
As Hs er silme —vlieu at thIe niorljing dew
lFi'oni Tlhetis' airiis he spirang,
Anidi ti-r(d tlhe starry lulsie,
VWhile all Olymipus to the imutsic rang.
A stairry hlost, the last pale chloir of nigit,
Motiurned( for Iim in the as soin, light:
The yoalng day woke, as on his patlt he sped,
Andl sleep and siaidows fi'oiii his eyclams fled!
LOVE.
Maideis, woiilCist thlou know the elf?
Friendshilp let himi call himrself Look upon hlis visaige free;
If y)ll fiery glances meet,
Full of mischief and deceit
That is Love-doubt not,'tis le!
If, a Proteus, he beguile,
1Nowv a tear and now a smile If he speak comlplaininglyCreep to-d.vy, to-noirroiv ri,
Ne'er foir sixty minui-tes or0e,
That is Love-doubt not,'tis lie!
Weedlinelig art le kniows full wellOil lis ]ips sweet roses dvell;
NVihen fie speaks, they archlily pout:
q(uick does passion cloud lis browv,
Pl(lyvig tlien, commniidialng now;
Th-at is Love —no longer doulbt!
Comes he without bow or dart,
Ininoccnce with,guileless heart?
Viesv him well upon the spot:
See you him *with sport and jest,
Stealin, nigh your tliougtless reast?
That is love-O trust hil not!t
The followinig is among the shortest of the devotional
piceces:
PRPAISE OF THE MOST HIGH.
To Zion's sacred hill, on angel's wiin,s,
Be~rs me this power divine, thlis holy love!
By Siloa's fostnt sthall I tl-he Mighlty praise,
In the dark cedar grove?
ere where the aionareh-bard, wi th h eaven ly joy,
Entranced in God, his hymns alone to God
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