Xi. Rejects The Influence Of Reason : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XI. REJECTS THE INFLUENCE OF REASON. O! Reason! vaunted Sovreign of the mind! Thou pompous vision with a sounding name! Canst thou, the souls rebellious passions tame! Canst thou in spells the vagrant fancy bind? Ah, no! capricious as the wavring...
Xxxi. Describes Her Bark : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXI. DESCRIBES HER BARK. Far oer the waves my lofty Bark shall glide, Loves frequent sighs the fluttring sails shall swell, While to my native home I bid farewell, Hopes snowy hand the burnisd helm shall guide! Tritons shall sport admidst...
Iv. Sappho Discovers Her Passion : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], IV. SAPPHO DISCOVERS HER PASSION. Why, when I gaze on Phaon's beauteous eyes, Why does each thought in wild disorder stray? Why does each fainting faculty decay, And my chill'd breast in throbbing tumults rise? Mute, on the ground my Lyre neglected...
Xxxviii. To A Sigh : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXVIII. TO A SIGH. Oh Sigh! thou stealst, the herald of the breast, The lovers fears, the lovers pangs to tell; Thou bidst with timid grace the bosom swell, Cheating the day of joy, the night of rest! Oh! lucid Tears! with eloquence confest, Why...
Xxxiv. Sappho's Prayer To Venus : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXIV. SAPPHO'S PRAYER TO VENUS. Venus! to thee, the Lesbian Muse shall sing, The song, which Myttellenian youths admird, when Echo, amrous of the strain inspird, Bade the wild rocks with maddning plaudits ring! Attend my prayr! O! Queen of rapture...
X. Describes Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], X. DESCRIBES PHAON. Dangrous to hear, is that melodious tongue, And fatal to the sense those murdrous eyes, Where in a sapphire sheath, Loves arrow lies, Himself conceald the crystal haunts among! Oft oer that form, enamourd have I hung, On th...
Xxiv. Her Address To The Moon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXIV. HER ADDRESS TO THE MOON. O Thou! meek Orb! that stealing oer the dale Cheerst with thy modest beams the noon of night! On the smooth lake diffusing silvry light, Sublimely still, and beautifully pale! What can thy cool and placid eye avail...
Xxvii. Sappho's Address To The Stars : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXVII. SAPPHO'S ADDRESS TO THE STARS. Oh! ye bright Stars! that on the Ebon fields Of Heavns empire, trembling seems to stand; Till rosy morn unlocks her portal bland, Where the proud Sun his fiery banner wields! To flames, less fierce than mine...
Xiii. She Endeavours To Fascinate Him : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XIII. SHE ENDEAVOURS TO FASCINATE HIM. Bring, bring to deck my brow, ye Sylvan girls, A roseate wreath; nor for my waving hair The costly band of studded gems prepare, Of sparkling crysolite or orient pearls: Love, oer my head his canopy unfurls, His...
Xxxv. Reproaches Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXV. REPROACHES PHAON. What means the mist opake that veils these eyes; Why does yon threatning tempest shroud the day? Why does thy altar, Venus, fade away, And on my breast the dews of horror rise? Phaon is false! be dim ye orient Skies; And let...
Xv. Phaon Awakes : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XV. PHAON AWAKES. Now, round my favord grot let roses rise, To strew the bank where Phaon wakes from rest; O! happy buds! to kiss his burning breast, And die, beneath the lustre of his eyes! Now, let the timbrels echo to the skies, Now damsels...
Xxix. Determines To Follow Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXIX. DETERMINES TO FOLLOW PHAON. Farewell, ye towring Cedars, in whose shade, Lulld by the Nightingale, I sunk to rest, While spicy breezes hoverd oer my breast To fan my cheek, in deepning tints arrayd; While amrous insects, humming round me, playd...
Introductory : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], "Flendus" amor meus est; elegeia flebile carmen; non facit ad lacrymas barbitos ulla meas"." Ovid. "Love taught my tears in sadder notes to flow, And tund my heart to elegies of woe"." Pope. I. INTRODUCTORY. Favourd by Heavn are those, ordaind...
Vii. Invokes Reason : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], VII. INVOKES REASON. Come, Reason, come! each nerve rebellious bind, Lull the fierce tempest of my fevrish soul; Come, with the magic of thy meek controul, And check the wayward wandrings of my mind: Estrangd from thee, no solace can I find, Oer my...
Xxxiii. Reaches Sicily : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXIII. REACHES SICILY. I Wake! delusive phantoms hence, away! Tempt not the weakness of a lovers breast; The softest breeze can shake the halcyons nest, And lightest clouds oercast the dawning ray! Twas but a vision! Now, the star of day Peers, like...
Xxxvii. Foresees Her Death : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXVII. FORESEES HER DEATH. When, in the gloomy mansion of the dead, This withring heart, this faded form shall sleep; When these fond eyes, at length shall cease to weep, And earths cold lap receive this fevrish head; Envy shall turn away, a tear...
Xlii. Her Last Appeal To Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XLII. HER LAST APPEAL TO PHAON. Oh! canst thou bear to see this faded frame, Deformd and mangled by the rocky deep? Wilt thou remember, and forbear to weep, My fatal fondness, and my peerless fame? Soon oer this heart, now warm with passions flame...
Title Page : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], SAPPHO AND PHAON IN A SERIES OF Legitimate Sonnets, WITH THOUGHTS ON POETICAL SUBJECTS, AND ANECDOTES OF THE GRECIAN POETESS. BY MARY ROBINSON, Author Of Poems, &c. &c. &c. &c. LONDON: Printed By S. GOSNELL, For The AUTHOR, And Sold By HOOKHAM...
Xviii. To Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XVIII. TO PHAON. Why art thou changd? O Phaon! tell me why? Love flies reproach, when passion feels decay; Or, I would paint the raptures of that day, When, in sweet converse, mingling sigh with sigh, I markd the graceful languor of thine eye ...
Xxv. To Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXV. TO PHAON. Canst thou forget, O! Idol of my Soul! Thy Sapphos voice, her form, her dulcet Lyre! That melting evry thought to fond desire, Bade sweet delerium oer thy senses roll? Canst thou, so soon, renounce the blest control That calmd with...
Viii. Her Passion Increases : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], VIII. HER PASSION INCREASES. Why, through each aching vein, with lazy pace Thus steals the languid fountain of my heart, While, from its source, each wild convulsive start Tears the scorchd roses from my burning face? In vain, O Lesbian Vales! your...
V. Contemns Its Power : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], V. CONTEMNS ITS POWER. O! How can Love exulting Reason queil! How fades each nobler passion from his gaze! Een Fame, that cherishes the Poets lays, That fame, ill-fated Sappho lovd so well. Lost is the wretch, who in his fatal spell Wastes the short...
Xii. Previous To Her Interview With Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XII. PREVIOUS TO HER INTERVIEW WITH PHAON. Now, oer the tessellated pavement strew Fresh saffron, steepd in essence of the rose, While down yon agate column gently flows A glittring streamlet of ambrosial dew! My Phaon smiles! the rich carnations hue...
Preface : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], SAPPHO AND PHAON PREFACE. It must strike every admirer of poetical compositions, that the modern sonnet, concluding with two lines, winding up the sentiment of the whole, confines the poet's fancy, and frequently occasions an abrupt terminati...
Vi. Describes The Characteristics Of Love : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], VI. DESCRIBES THE CHARACTERISTICS OF LOVE. Is it to love, to fix the tender gaze, To hide the timid blush, and steal away; To shun the busy world, and waste the day In some rude mountains solitary maze? Is it to chant one name in ceaseless lays...
Xxxvi. Her Confirmed Despair : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXVI. HER CONFIRMED DESPAIR. Lead me, Sicilian Maids, to haunted bowrs, While yon pale moon displays her faintest beams Oer blasted woodlands, and enchanted streams, Whose banks infect the breeze with poisnous flowrs. Ah! lead me, where the barren...
Xix. Suspects His Constancy : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XIX. SUSPECTS HIS CONSTANCY. Farewell, ye coral caves, ye pearly sands, Ye waving woods that crown yon lofty steep; Farewell, ye Nereides of the glittring deep, Ye mountain tribes, ye fawns, ye sylvan bands: On the bleak rock your frantic minstrel...
Xliv. Sonnect Conclusive : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XLIV. SONNECT CONCLUSIVE Here droops the muse! while from her glowing mind, Celestial Sympathy, with humid eye, Bids the light Sylph capricious Fancy fly, Times restless wings with transient flowrs to bind! For now, with folded arms and head inclind...
Xxx. Bids Farewell To Lesbos : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXX. BIDS FAREWELL TO LESBOS. Oer the tall cliff that bounds the billowy main Shadwing the surge that sweeps the lonely strand, While the thin vapours break along the sand, Days harbinger unfolds the liquid plain. The rude Sea murmurs, mournful...
Xxii. Phaon Forsakes Her : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXII. PHAON FORSAKES HER. Wild is the foaming Sea! The surges roar! And nimbly dart the livid lightnings round! On the rent rock the angry waves rebound; Ah me! the lessning bark is seen no more! Along the margin of the trembling shore, Loud...
Xxxix. To The Muses : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXIX. TO THE MUSES. Prepare your wreaths, Aonian maids divine, To strew the tranquil bed where I shall sleep; In tears, the myrtle and the laurel steep, And let Erato's hand the trophies twine. No parian marble, there, with labour'd line, Shall bid...
Ix. Laments The Volatility Of Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], IX. LAMENTS THE VOLATILITY OF PHAON. Ye, who in alleys green and leafy bowrs, Sport, the rude children of fantastic birth; Where frolic nymphs, and shaggy tribes of mirth, In clamrous revels waste the midnight hours; Who, linkd in flaunting bands...
Xxxii. Dreams Of A Rival : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXXII. DREAMS OF A RIVAL. Blest as the Gods! Sicilian Maid is he, The youth whose soul thy yielding graces charm; Who bound, O! thraldom sweet! by beautys arm, In idle dalliance fondly sports with thee! Blest as the Gods! that ivry throne to see...
Xxvi. Contemns Philosophy : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXVI. CONTEMNS PHILOSOPHY. Where antique woods oer-hang the mountainss crest, And mid-day glooms in solemn silence lour; Philosophy, go seek a lonely bowr, And waste lifes fervid noon in fancied rest. Go, where the bird of sorrow weaves her nest...
Xvii. The Tyranny Of Love : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XVII. THE TYRANNY OF LOVE. Love steals unheeded oer the tranquil mind, As Summer breezes fan the sleeping main, Slow through each fibre creeps the subtle pain, Till closely round the yielding bosom twind. Vain is the hope the magic to unbind...
Ii. The Temple Of Chastity : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], II. THE TEMPLE OF CHASTITY. High on a rock, coaeval with the skies, A Temple stands, reard by immortal powrs To Chastity divine! ambrosial flowrs Twining round icicles, in columns rise, Mingling with pendent gems of orient dyes! Piercing the air...
Account Of Sappho : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], ACCOUNT OF SAPPHO. Sappho, whom the ancients distinguished by the title of the Tenth Muse, was born at Mytilene in the island of Lesbos, six hundred years before the Christian era. As no particulars have been transmitted to posterity, respecting...
Xxviii. Describes The Fascinations Of Love : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXVIII. DESCRIBES THE FASCINATIONS OF LOVE. Weak is the sophistry, and vain the art That whispers patience to the minds despair! That bids reflection bathe the wounds of care, While Hope, with pleasing phantoms, soothes their smart. For memry still...
Xliii. Her Reflections On The Leucadian Rock : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XLIII. HER REFLECTIONS ON THE LEUCADIAN ROCK BEFORE SHE PERISHES. While from the dizzy precipice I gaze, The world receding from my pensive eyes, High oer my head the tyrant eagle flies, Clothd in the sinking suns transcendent blaze! The meek-eyd...
Xxiii. Sappho's Conjectures : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXIII. SAPPHO'S CONJECTURES. To tnas scorching sands my Phaon flies! False Youth! can other charms attractive prove? Say, can Sicilian loves thy passions move, Play round thy heart, and fix thy fickle eyes, While in despair the Lesbian Sappho dies...
Xvi. Sappho Rejects Hope : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XVI. SAPPHO REJECTS HOPE. Delusive Hope! more transient than the ray That leads pale twilight to her dusky bed, Oer woodland glen, or breezy mountains head, Lingring to catch the parting sigh of day. Hence with thy visionary charms, away! Nor oer my...
Xiv. To The Aeolian Harp : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XIV. TO THE AEOLIAN HARP. Come, soft Aeolian harp, while zephyr plays Along the meek vibration of thy strings, As twilights hand her modest mantle brings, Blending with sober grey, the western blaze! O! prompt my Phaons dreams with tendrest lays, Ere...
Xx. To Phaon : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XX. TO PHAON. Oh! I could toil for thee oer burning plains; Could smile at povertys disastrous blow; With thee, could wander midst a world of snow, Where one long night oer frozen Scythia reigns. Severd from thee, my sickning soul disdains...
The Subject Of Each Sonnet : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], THE SUBJECT OF EACH SONNET. I. Introductory. II. The temple of Chastity. III. The Bower of Pleasure. IV. Sappho discovers her Passion. V. Contemns its Power. VI. Describes the characteristics of Love. VII. Invokes Reason. VIII. Her Passion increases...
Xli. Resolves To Take The Leap Of Leucata : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XLI. RESOLVES TO TAKE THE LEAP OF LEUCATA. Yes, I will go, where circling whirlwinds rise, Where threatning clouds in sable grandeur lour; Where the blast yells, the liquid columns pour, And maddning billows combat with the skies! There, while...
Xl. Visions Appear To Her In A Dream : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XL. VISIONS APPEAR TO HER IN A DREAM. On the low margin of a murmring stream, As rapt in meditations arms I lay; Each aching sense in slumbers stole away, While potent fancy formd a soothing dream; Oer the Leucadian deep, a dazzling beam Shed...
Iii. The Bower Of Pleasure : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], III. THE BOWER OF PLEASURE. Turn to yon vale beneath, whose tangled shade Excludes the blazing torch of noon-day light, Where sportive Fawns, and dimpled Loves invite, The bowr of Pleasure opens to the glade: Lulld by soft flutes, on leaves...
Xxi. Laments Her Early Misfortunes : * "Sappho and Phaon", by Mary Robinson, [1796], XXI. LAMENTS HER EARLY MISFORTUNES. Why do I live to loath the cheerful day, To shun the smiles of Fame, and mark the hours On tardy pinions move, while ceaseless showrs Down my wan cheek in lucid currents stray? My tresses all abound, nor gems...
