A Song. If Wine And Music Have The Power

Matthew Prior 1664 – 1721



If wine and music have the power
To ease the sickness of the soul,
Let Phoebis every string explore,
And Bacchus fill the sprightly bowl:
Let them their friendly aid employ
To make my Cloe's absense light,
And seek for pleasure to destroy
The sorrows of this live-long night.

But she to-morrow will return:
Venus, be thou to-morrow great;
Thy myrtles strow, thy odours burn,
And meet thy favourite nymph in state,
Kind goddess, to no other powers
Let us to-morrow's blessings own,
Thy darling Loves shall guide the hours,
And all the day be thine alone.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 30, 2023

30 sec read
81

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAXABCBC DEDEFGFG
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 549
Words 99
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 8

Matthew Prior

Matthew Prior was an English poet and diplomat. more…

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