The Sacrifice: An Epistle to Celia

The Sacrifice: An Epistle to Celia*

If you, dear Celia, cannot bear,

The low delights that others share:

If nothing will your palate fit

But learning, eloquence and wit,

Why, you may sit alone (I ween)

Till you’re devoured with the spleen:

But if variety can please

With humble scenes and careless ease;

If smiles can banish melancholy,

Or whimsy with its parent folly; [10]

If any joy in these there be,

I dare invite you down to me.

   You know these little roofs of mine

Are always sacred to the Nine;

This day we make a sacrifice

To the Parnassian deities,

Which I am ordered by Apollo,

To show you in the words that follow.

    As first we purge the hallowed room

With soft utensil called a broom; [20]

And next for you a throne prepare,

Which vulgar mortals call a chair,

While zephyrs from an engine blow,

And bid the sparkling cinders glow;

Then gather round the mounting flames,

The priestess and assembled dames,

While some inferior maid shall bring

Clear water from the bubbling spring:

Shut up in vase of sable dye,

Secure from each unhallowed eye, [30]

Fine wheaten bread you next behold,

Like that which Homer sings of old,

And by some unpolluted fair

It must be scorched with wond’rous care:

So far ’tis done: And now behold

The sacred vessels – not of gold:

Of polished earth must they be formed,

With painting curiously adorned;

These rites are past: And now must follow

The grand libation to Apollo, [40]

Of juices drawn from magic weeds,

And pith of certain Indian reeds.

For flow’r of milk the priestess calls,

Her voice re-echoes from the walls;

With hers the sister voices blend,

And with the od’rous steam ascend:

Each fair one now a sibyl grows,

And ev’ry cheek with ardour glows.

And (though not quite beside their wits)

Are seized with deep prophetic fits: [50]

Some by mysterious figures show

That Celia loves a shallow Beau;

And some by signs and hints declare

That Damon will not wed Ziphair:

Their neighbours’ fortunes each can tell,

So potent is the mighty spell.