Pindar and Anacreon/Anacreon/Ode 51

by Anacreon

ODE LI.—ON A MEDAL REPRESENTING VENUS.

What matchless skill! what art divine
On this bright silver medal shine!
On every side; above, below,
The floods of ocean seem to flow;

While softly gliding, calm and clear,
The undulating waves appear.
Some heav'n-taught genius, in its flight.
Has dared attempt the wondrous sight^[1]
Of Venus, love's soft deity,
Emerging from the silver sea.
What bright and dazzling beauties rise
To charm the gazer's ravish'd eyes!
And those the jealous waves conceal,
Sure none but impious hands reveal.
She, like some sea-flower, fresh and gay,
Shines glittering on her watery way.
Where'er the lovely goddess swims,
Obsequious billows kiss her limbs;
Now rise above, now sink below
Her rose-bud breasts and neck of snow.
As virgin lilies brighter show
Amid the dark-leaved violet's glow,
So through the dark-blue wave is seen
The beauteous form of love's dear queen.
See, gayly sporting at her side,
Young laughing Loves on dolphins ride,
And o'er the silvery surface glide.
The crooked natives of the deep,
With wanton curve and bounding leap,
Attend the goddess in her tram,
Where'er she smiling skims the main.

1. Many a poet has dared attempt the description. Tickel, in his "Prospect of Peace," has the following lines:—
   

   "As when sweet Venus, so the fable sings,
   Awaked by Nereids, from the ocean springs;
   With smiles she sees the threat'ning billows rise,
   Spreads smooth the surge, and clears the low'ring skies;
   Light o'er the deep, with fluttering Cupids crown'd,
   The pearly conch and silver turtles bound;
   Her tresses shed ambrosial odours round."