The Abraham Cowley Text and Image Archive
Anacreontiques:
OR,
Some Copies of Verses Translated
Paraphrastically out of
Anacreon
from Miscellanies, Poems (1656; editor's copy)
I.
Love

I'll sing of Heroes, and of Kings;
In mighty Numbers, mighty things,
Begin, my Muse; but lo, the strings
To my great Song rebellious prove;
The strings will sound of nought but Love.
I broke them all, and put on new;
'Tis this or nothing sure will do.
These sure (said I) will me obey;
These sure Heroick Notes will play.
Straight I began with thundring Jove,
And all the'immortal Pow'ers but Love.
Love smil'ed, and from my'enfeebled Lyre
Came gentle airs, such as inspire
Melting love, and soft desire.
Farewel then Heroes, farewel Kings,
And mighty Numbers, mighty Things;
Love tunes my Heart just to my strings.
This text normalized in the same way as Cowley's "Hymn to Light."
All the Anacreontiques: 1. Love, 2. Drinking, 3. Beauty, 4. The Duel, 5. Age, 6. The Account, 7. Gold, 8. The Epicure, 9. Another, 10. The Grasshopper, 11. The Swallow
Overview of the Anacreontea  //  Return to The Works on the Web