The praise of Bacchus then the sweet musican sung, Of Bacchus, ever fair and ever young!―― The jolly god in triumph comes! Sound the trumpets! beat the drums! Flush’d with a purple grace, He shows his honest face, Now give the hautboys breath! he comes! he comes! Bacchus ever fair and young, Drinking joys did first ordain: _Chorus._ Bacchus’ blessings are a treasure; Drinking is the soldier’s pleasure: Rich the treasure, Sweet the pleasure, Sweet is pleasure, after pain! Sooth’d with the sound, the king grew vain; Fought all his battles o’er again; And thrice he routed all his foes, and thrice he slew the slain! The master saw the madness rise; His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes; And while he heaven and earth defied―― Changed his hand, and check’d his pride. He chose a mournful Muse, Soft Pity to infuse: He sang Darius great and good! By too severe a fate, Fallen! fallen! fallen! fallen! Fallen from his high estate And weltering in his blood! Deserted at his utmost need By those his former bounty fed, On the bare earth exposed he lies, With not a friend to close his eyes! With downcast look the joyless victor sate. _Chorus._ Revolving, in his alter’d soul, The various turns of fate below; And now, and then, a sigh he stole, And tears began to flow! The mighty master smil’d to see That love was in the next degree: ’Twas but a kindred sound to move: For pity melts the mind to love. Softly sweet, in Lydian measures. Soon he sooth’d his soul to pleasures War, he sung, is toil and trouble: Honor but an empty bubble; Never ending, still beginning, Fighting still, and still destroying, If the world be worth thy winning, Think, oh think it worth enjoying! Lovely Thais sits beside thee, Take the good the gods provide thee! The many rend the skies with loud applause, So Love was crown’d; but Music won the cause. _Chorus._ The prince, unable to conceal his pain, Gazed on the fair Who caused his care, And sigh’d and look’d, sigh’d and look’d, Sigh’d and look’d, and sigh’d again: At length, with love and wine at once oppress’d, The vanquish’d victor sank upon her breast!