The Cypriote

by Herman Melville

Herman Melville

——"Noble gods at the board
——Where lord unto lord
Light pushes the care-killing wine:
——Urbane in their pleasure,
——Superb in their leisure—
Lax ease—
Lax ease after labor divine!

——"Golden ages eternal,
——Autumnal, supernal,
Deep mellow their temper serene:
——The rose by their gate
——Shall it yield unto fate?
They are gods—
They are gods and their garlands keep green.

——"Ever blandly adore them;
——But spare to implore them:
They rest, they discharge them from time;
——Yet believe, light believe
——They would succor, reprieve—
Nay, retrieve—
Might but revelers pause in the prime!—





Last updated April 01, 2023