Where the nectar-bright streams,
    Like the dawn’s happy dreams,
    Eternally one holiday,
    The life of the Gods glides away. 
    Throned on his seat sublime,
    Looks He whose years know not time;
    At his nod, if his anger awaken,
    At the wave of his hair all Olympus is shaken. 
    Yet He from the throne of his birth,
    Bow’d down to the sons of the earth,
    Through dim Arcadian glades to wander sighing,
      Lull’d into dreams of bliss—­
      Lull’d by his Leda’s kiss
    Lo, at his feet the harmless thunders lying!

    The Sun’s majestic coursers go
      Along the Light’s transparent plain,
      Curb’d by the Day-god’s golden rein;
    The nations perish at his bended bow;
      Steeds that majestic go,
      Death from the bended bow,
      Gladly he leaves above—­
      For Melody and Love! 
    Low bend the dwellers of the sky,
    When sweeps the stately Juno by;
    Proud in her car, the Uncontroll’d
      Curbs the bright birds that breast the air,
    As flames the sovereign crown of gold
      Amidst the ambrosial waves of hair—­
    Ev’n thou, fair Queen of Heaven’s high throne,
    Hast Love’s subduing sweetness known;
    From all her state, the Great One bends
      To charm the Olympian’s bright embraces,
    The Heart-Enthraller only lends
      The rapture-cestus of the Graces!

    Blessed through love are the Gods above—­
      Through love like a God may man be;
    Heavenlier through love is the heaven above,
      Through love like a heaven earth can be!

    Love can sun the Realms of Night—­
    Orcus owns the magic might—­
    Peaceful where She sits beside,
    Smiles the swart King on his Bride;
    Hell feels the smile in sudden light—­
    Love can sun the Realms of Night. 
    Heavenly o’er the startled Hell,
    Holy, where the Accursed dwell,
      O Thracian, went thy silver song! 
    Grim Minos, with unconscious tears,
    Melts into mercy as he hears—­
    The serpents in Megara’s hair,
    Kiss, as they wreathe enamour’d there;
      All harmless rests the madding thong;—­
    From the torn breast the Vulture mute
    Flies, scared before the charmed lute—­
    Lull’d into sighing from their roar
    The dark waves woo the listening shore—­
    Listening the Thracian’s silver song!—­
    Love was the Thracian’s silver song!

    Blessed through love are the Gods above—­
      Through love like a God may man be;
    Heavenlier through love is the heaven above—­
      Through love like a heaven earth can be!

    Through Nature blossom-strewing,
    One footstep we are viewing,
      One flash from golden pinions!—­
    If from Heaven’s starry sea,
      If from the moonlit sky;