Poetical Works of Johnson, Parnell, Gray and Smollett

Evening: An Ode. To Stella

Evening now, from purple wings,
  Sheds the grateful gifts she brings;
  Brilliant drops bedeck the mead,
  Cooling breezes shake the reed—
  Shake the reed, and curl the stream,
  Silver’d o’er with Cynthia’s beam;
  Near, the chequer’d, lonely grove,
  Hears, and keeps thy secrets, Love.
  Stella, thither let us stray
  Lightly o’er the dewy way!
  Phoebus drives his burning car,
  Hence, my lovely Stella, far;
  In his stead, the Queen of Night
  Round us pours a lambent light;
  Light that seems but just to show
  Breasts that beat, and cheeks that glow;
  Let us now, in whisper’d joy,
  Evening’s silent hours employ,
  Silence best, and conscious shades,
  Please the hearts that love invades;
  Other pleasures give them pain,
  Lovers all but love disdain.