1 Roses in breathing forth their scent, Or stars their borrowed ornament; Nymphs in their watery sphere that move, Or angels in their orbs above; The winged chariot of the light, Or the slow, silent wheels of night; The shade which from the swifter sun Doth in a swifter motion run, Or souls that their eternal rest do keep, Make far less noise than Celia's breath in sleep. 2 But if the angel which inspires This subtle flame with active fires, Should mould this breath to words, and those Into a harmony dispose, The music of this heavenly sphere Would steal each soul (in) at the ear, And into plants and stones infuse A life that cherubim would choose, And with new powers invert the laws of fate, Kill those that live, and dead things animate. SPEAKING AND KISSING. 1 The air which thy smooth voice doth break, Into my soul like lightning flies; My life retires while thou dost speak, And thy soft breath its room supplies. 2 Lost in this pleasing ecstasy, I join my trembling lips to thine, And back receive that life from thee Which I so gladly did resign. 3 Forbear, Platonic fools! t'inquire What numbers do the soul compose; No harmony can life inspire, But that which from these accents flows. LA BELLE CONFIDANTE. You earthly souls that court a wanton flame Whose pale, weak influence Can rise no higher than the humble name And narrow laws of sense, Learn, by our friendship, to create An immaterial fire, Whose brightness angels may admire, But cannot emulate. Sickness may fright the roses from her cheek, Or make the lilies fade, But all the subtle ways that death doth seek Cannot my love invade. THE LOSS. 1 Yet ere I go, Disdainful Beauty, thou shalt be So wretched as to know What joys thou fling'st away with me. 2 A faith so bright, As Time or Fortune could not rust; So firm, that lovers might Have read thy story in my dust, 3 And crowned thy name With laurel verdant as thy youth, Whilst the shrill voice of Fame Spread wide thy beauty and my truth. 4 This thou hast lost, For all true lovers, when they find That my just aims were crossed, Will speak thee lighter than the wind. 5 And none will lay Any oblation on thy shrine, But such as would betray Thy faith to faiths as false as thine. 6 Yet, if thou choose On such thy freedom to bestow, Affection may excuse, For love from sympathy doth flow. NOTE ON ANACREON.