IDYL I.

THE RUNAWAY LOVE.

HER Eros thus proclaimed the Cyprian Queen :

"If any one has in the highway seen

My straying Eros, and reports to me

His whereabout, he shall rewarded be;

A kiss for him; but if it shall betide

One bring him me, a kiss-and more beside.
Midst twenty he is notable to view;

Not fair, but flamy, is his dazzling hue;

Sharp are his eyes, and flame their glances fleet; His mind is wicked, but his speech is sweet.

His word and meaning are not like at all;

His word is honey, and his meaning gall.

He is a mischievous, deceitful child;

Beguiles with falsehood, laughs at the beguiled.

He has a lovely head of curling hair,
But saucy features, with a reckless stare.
His hands are tiny, but afar they throw
E'en down to Dis and Acheron below.
Naked his form, his mind in covert lies;
Winged as a feathered bird, he careless flies;
From girls to boys, from men to women flits,
Sports with their heart-strings, on their vitals sits.
Small is his bow, his arrow small to sight,
But to Jove's court it wings its ready flight.

Upon his back a golden quiver sounds,

Full of sharp darts, with which e'en me he wounds.

All cruel things by cruel Love are done;

His torch is small, yet scorches e'en the sun.

But should you take him — fast and safely bind him,
And bring him to me with his hands behind him.
If he should weep, take heed-he weeps at will;
But should he smile—then drag him faster still;
And should he offer you a kiss, beware!
Evil his kiss, his red lips poisoned are!

And should he say, with seeming friendship hot,
'Accept my bow and arrows,' touch them not!
Tears, smiles, words, gifts, deceitful wiles inspire,
And every thing he has is dipt in fire.

IDYL II.

EUROPA.

CYPRIS, when all but shone the dawn's glad beam, To fair Europa sent a pleasant dream;

When sleep, upon the close-shut eyelids sitting,
Sweeter than honey, is eye-fetters knitting,

The limb-dissolving sleep! when to and fro
True dreams, like sheep at pasture, come and go.
Europa, sleeping in her upper room,

The child of Phoenix, in her virgin bloom,
Thought that she saw a contest fierce arise

Betwixt two continents, herself the prize;
They to the dreamer seemed like women quite,
Asia, and Asia's unknown opposite.

This was a stranger, that a native seemed,

And closer hugged her-so Europa dreamed;

C C

And called herself Europa's nurse and mother,
Said that she bore and reared her; but that other
Spared not her hands, and still the sleeper drew,
With her good will, and claimed her as her due,
And said that Zeus Ægiochus gave her,
By Fate's appointment, that sweet prisoner.

Up-started from her couch the maiden waking, And felt her heart within her bosom quaking; She thought it true, and sat in hushed surprise— Still saw those women with her open eyes; Then to her timid voice at last gave vent:"Which of the gods to me this vision sent? What kind of dream is this that startled me, And sudden made my pleasant slumber flee? Who was the stranger that I saw in sleep? What love for her did to my bosom creep! And how she hailed me, as her daughter even ! But only turn to good my vision, Heaven!"

So said, and bounded up, and sought her train Of dear companions, all of noble strain, Of equal years and stature; gentle, kind,

Sweet to the sight, and pleasant to the mind;