PRAYER TO PRIAPUS. Delight of Bacchus, Guardian of the groves, The kind restorer of decaying loves: Lesbos and verdant Thasos thee implore, Whose maids thy pow'r in wanton rites adore: Joy of the Dryads, with propitious care, Attend my wishes, and indulge my pray'r. My guiltless hands with blood I never stain'd, Or sacrilegiously the god's prophan'd: Thus low I bow, restoring blessings send, I did not thee with my whole self offend. Who sins through weakness, is less guilty thought; Indulge my crime, and spare a venial fault. On me when fate shall smiling gifts bestow, I'll (not ungrateful) to your god-head bow; A sucking pig I'll offer to thy shrine, And sacred bowls brimful of generous wine; A destin'd goat shall on thy altar lie, And the horn'd parent of my flock shall die; Then thrice thy frantic vot'ries shall around Thy temple dance, with smiling garlands crown'd, And most devoutly drunk, thy orgies sound.--PETRONIUS. HYMN TO PRIAPUS. Bacchus and Nymphs delight O mighty God! Whom Cynthia gave to rule the blooming wood. Lesbos and verdant Thasos thee adore, And Lydians in loose flowing dress implore, And raise devoted temples to thy pow'r. Thou Dryad's Joy, and Bacchus' Guardian, hear My conscious prayer with attentive ear. My hands with guiltless blood I never stain'd, Nor yet the temples of the gods prophan'd. Restore my strength, and lusty vigour send, My trembling nerves like pliant oziers bend. Who sins through weakness, is not guilty thought, No equal power can punish such a fault. A wanton goat shall on your altars die, And spicy smoke in curls ascend the sky. A pig thy floors with sacred blood shall stain, And round the awful fire and holy flame, Thrice shall thy priests, with youth and garlands crown'd, In pious drunkenness thy orgies sound.--PETRONIUS. A TRANSLATION OUT OF THE PRIAPEIA. THE COMPLAINT OF PRIAPUS FOR BEING VEILED. The Almighty's Image, of his shape afraid, And hide the noblest part e'er nature made, Which God alone succeeds in his creating trade. The Fall this fig-leav'd modesty began, To punish woman, by obscuring man; Before, where'er his stately Cedar moved She saw, ador'd and kiss'd the thing she loved. Why do the gods their several signs disclose, Almighty Jove his Thunder-bolt expose, Neptune his Trident, Mars his Buckler shew, Pallas her spear to each beholder's view, And poor Priapus be alone confin'd T'obscure the women's god, and parent of mankind? Since free-born brutes their liberty obtain, Long hast thou journey-worked for souls in vain, Storm the Pantheon, and demand thy right, For on this weapon 'tis depends the fight.--PETRONIUS. CHAPTER VI. _Circumcision, male and female, in various countries and ages._