To Lysius Lenæus

p. 181

XLIX.

TO LYSIUS LENÆUS.

A HYMN.

Hear me, Jove's son, blest Bacchus, God of wine,
Born of two mothers, honor'd and divine;
Lysian, Euion  ^* Bacchus, various-nam'd,
Of Gods the offspring secret, holy, fam'd:
Fertile and nourishing whose liberal care 5
Earth's fruits increases, flourishing and fair;
Sounding, magnanimous, Lenæan pow'r
O various form'd, medic'nal, holy flow'r:
Mortals in thee, repose from labour find,
Delightful charm, desir'd by all mankind: 10
Fair-hair'd Euion, Bromian, joyful God,
Lysian, invested with the leafy rod.
To these our rites, benignant pow'r incline,
When fav'ring men, or when on Gods you shine;
Be present to thy mystic's suppliant pray'r, 15
Rejoicing come, and fruits abundant bear.

Footnotes

181:* Euion ingeminat, reparabilis assonat Echo. Persius.