Eucrates to the God Sleep

No God to mortals often er descends
Than thou, O sleep ! yet thee the sad alone
Invoke, and gratefully thy gifts receive.
Some thou invitest to explore the sands
Left by Pactolos, some to climb up higher,
Where points Ambition to the pomp of War ;
Others thou watchest while they tighten robes
Which Law throws round them loose, and they meanwhile
Wink at the judge, and he the wink returns.
Apart sit fewer, whom thou lovest more
And leadest where unruffled rivers flow,
Or azure lakes neath azure skies expand.
These have no wider wishes, and no fears,
Unless a fear by motion to molest
The silent, solitary, stately swan.
Disdaining the garrulity of groves
Nor seeking shelter there from sun or storm.

Me also hast thou led among such scenes,
Gentlest of Gods ! and Age appear'd far off
While thou wert hovering round about the couch
Until he stoopt and said, close over it,
" Sleep often plays with me, as once he used,
" Refreshing in his way the vernal flowers,
" Flowers that had droopt and but for him had died.
" He now departs from thee, but leaves behind
" His own twin-brother, beauteous as himself,
" Who soon shall take my place . . men call him
Death.
" Thou heavest me, nor troublest, as most do,
" In sooth why shouldst thou? what man hast thou wrong'd
" By deed or word ? few dare ask this within."

There was a pause ; then suddenly said Age
" He whom I warn'd approacheth : so farewell."

PAN
Pan led me to a wood the other day,
Then, bending both hoofs under him, where moss
Was softest and where highest was the tuft.

Said he, " sit thou aside me ; there is room
Just for us two ; the tinklers are below
To catch the little birds and butterflies.

Nor see us nor would heed us if they saw.

I minded thee in Sicily with one
I dearly love ; I heard thee tell my loss
Of Pitys ; and he swore that none but thou
Could thus contend with him, or ever should.

Though others had loud lyres and struck them well.
Few could bring any harmony from reeds
By me held high, and higher since thou hast breath'd
Thy gentle breath o'er Pitys and her Pan."