​The First ODE of ANACREON.
On his LUTE.

THE line of Atreus will I sing;
To Cadmus will I tune the string:
But, as from string to string I move,
My lute will only sound of Love.

The cords I change through every screw,
And model the whole lute anew.
Once more, in song, my voice I raise,
And, Hercules, thy toils I praise:
My lute does ftill my voice deny,
And in the tones of love reply.

Ye heroes then, at once farewel:
Loves only echo from my shell.

​The SECOND ODE. On WOMEN.

NATURE the Bull with horns supplies,
The horse with hoofs she fortifies,
The fleeting foot on hares bestows,
On lions teeth, two dreadful rows! 4
Grants fish to swim, and birds to fly,
And on their skill bids men rely.

Women alone defenceless live,
To women what does nature give? 8
Beauty she gives instead of darts,
Beauty, instead of shields, imparts;
Nor can the sword, nor fire, oppose
The fair, victorious where she goes. 12

​The THIRD ODE. On LOVE.

N E midnight when the bear did ftand with Bootes* hand, And, with their labour fore opprefs'd, The race of men were lay'd to reft, Then to my doors, at unawares, Came Lwe, and tried to force the bars.

Who thus aflails my doors, I cry'd ? Who breaks my {lumbers ? Love reply'd, Open : a child alone is here ! A little child ! you need not fear : Here through the moonlefs night I flray, And, drench'd in rain, have loft my way.

Then mov'd to pity by his plight. Too much in hafle my lamp I light, And open : when a child I fee, A little child, he feem'd to me; ​Who bore a quiver, and a bow ; And wings did to his moulders grow.

Within the hearth I bid him ftand, Then chafe and cherilh either hand 2 a Between my palms, and wring, with'- cere, The trickling water from his hair.

Now come, faid he, no longer chill* We'll bend this bow, and try our skill, 2 A. And prove the ftring, how far its pow'r Remains unflacken'd by the fliow'r.

He bends his bow, and culls his quiver, And pierces, like a Breez, my liver: 28 Then leaping, laughing, as he fled, Rejoice with me, my hqft, he faid: My bow is found in every part, And you (hall rue it at your heart.