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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


LOVE MAKES THE BEST POETS; AN IDYLLIUM by BION

First Line: DARTS, TORCH, OR BOW, THE MUSES DO NOT FEAR
Last Line: MY VIOL'S TUN'D, AND SWEETEST NUMBERS FLOW.
Subject(s): LOVE; POETRY & POETS;

DARTS, Torch, or Bow, the Muses do not fear,
They love and follow Cupid ev'ry where,
And him whose breast his arrows cannot reach,
They all avoid, refusing him to teach.

But if Love's fire begin to warm a heart,
They straight inspire it with their sacred art;
Let none with subtil logic this deny,
For I too well the truth can testify.

If Men or Gods I strive to celebrate,
My music's discord, and my verse is flat:
For Love, or Lycis, when my vein I show,
My viol's tun'd, and sweetest numbers flow.



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