Bright Stella, form'd for universal reign, <br />Too well you know to keep the slaves you gain; <br />When in your eyes resistless lightnings play, <br />Awed into love our conquer'd hearts obey, <br />And yield reluctant to despotic sway; <br />But when your music soothes the raging pain, <br />We bid propitious heaven prolong your reign, <br />We bless the tyrant, and we hug the chain. <br />When old Timotheus struck the vocal string, <br />Ambition's fury fired the Grecian king: <br />Unbounded projects labouring in his mind, <br />He pants for room in one poor world confined. <br />Thus waked to rage by music's dreadful power, <br />He bids the sword destroy, the flame devour. <br />Had Stella's gentle touches moved the lyre, <br />Soon had the monarch felt the nobler fire: <br />No more delighted with destructive war, <br />Ambitious only now to please the fair; <br />Resign'd his thirst of empire to her charms, <br />And found a thousand worlds in Stella's arms.<br /><br />Samuel Johnson<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/to-miss-hickman-playing-the-spinet/
