Semichorus. <br />Oh Tyrant Love! hast thou possest <br />The prudent, learn'd, and virtuous breast? <br />Wisdom and wit in vain reclaim, <br />And Arts but soften us to feel thy flame. <br />Love, soft intruder, enters here, <br />But ent'ring learns to be sincere. <br />Marcus with blushes owns he loves, <br />And Brutus tenderly reproves. <br />Why, Virtue, dost thou blame desire, <br />Which Nature has imprest? <br />Why, Nature, dost thou soonest fire <br />The mild and gen'rous breast? <br /> <br />Chorus. <br />Love's purer flames the Gods approve; <br />The Gods and Brutus bent to love: <br />Brutus for absent Portia sighs, <br />And sterner Cassius melts at Junia's eyes. <br />What is loose love? a transient gust, <br />Spent in a sudden storm of lust, <br />A vapour fed from wild desire, <br />A wand'ring, self-consuming fire, <br />But Hymen's kinder flames unite; <br />And burn for ever one; <br />Chaste as cold Cynthia's virgin light, <br />Productive as the Sun. <br /> <br />Semichorus. <br />Oh source of ev'ry social tie, <br />United wish, and mutual joy! <br />What various joys on one attend, <br />As son, as father, brother husband, friend? <br />Whether his hoary sire he spies, <br />While thousand grateful thoughts arise; <br />Or meets his spouse's fonder eye; <br />Or views his smiling progeny; <br />What tender passions take their turns, <br />What home-felt raptures move? <br />His heart now melts, now leaps, now burns, <br />With rev'rence, hope, and love. <br /> <br />Chorus. <br />Hence guilty joys, distastes, surmises, <br />Hence false tears, deceits, disguises, <br />Dangers, doubts, delays, surprises; <br />Fires that scorch, yet dare not shine <br />Purest love's unwasting treasure, <br />Constant faith, fair hope, long leisure, <br />Days of ease, and nights of pleasure; <br />Sacred Hymen! these are thine.<br /><br />Alexander Pope<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/chorus-of-youths-and-virgins/
