Henry Baker

1698-1774 / England

The Regions Of Love

Beyond two Hills, whose beauteous Summits rise
With equal Grace, a pleasant Valley lies.
Here Nature liberally her Gifts bestows:
Delightful Land! where Milk and Honey flows!
Hence, far and wide extends an ample Plain,
Profusely grateful to the Tiller's Pain,
Where Corn, and Wine, and Oyl, rejoice the happy Swain.
Just in the Midst, an antient Land--mark stands,
Points out the Country, and divides the Lands:
And here the Traveller begins to prove
Refreshing Odours from the Groves of Love.

From this, streight on, the Mount of Venus lies,
Easy ascends, and ravishes the Eyes.
Here Venus' Gardens: here for ever green
With Blossoms crown'd eternal Spring is seen:
Here Flora's Bounty all the Ground bestows,
The Pink, the Lilly, Violet, and Rose,
At once their blended Fragrancy disclose.
Here, Woodbines intermix'd with Jessamine,
Around the Orange their Embraces twine,
Whose loaded bending Boughs support the cluster'd Vine.

Gently descending, lies a Myrtle--Grove,
Sacred to Venus, and the God of Love;
Hence all Arabia's balmy Sweets arise,
Unite their Odours, and perfume the Skies.
Quite thro' the Glade a Chrystal River flows,
Balsamick, healing all the Lover's Woes,
And spicy Shrubs along its Banks extend their graceful Rows.

Ten thousand smiling Cupids, ever gay,
Beauteous, and Young, among the Branches play,
And shew the doubting Passenger his Way.

For ever open, in the Center stands
Love's sacred Dome, and all around commands.
Delight and Pleasure at the Porch attend,
To introduce thee to thy Journey's End.
Then enter, Traveller, thy Homage pay
Before Love's Throne, and on his Altar lay
Thy grateful Sacrifice: (Distrust, and Fear,
And ill--tim'd Modesty are banish'd here)
Boldly perform his Rites; propitious, He
Will crown Thee with sublime Felicity.
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