'Twas night, and many a circling bowl

Had deeply warmed my thirsty soul;

As lulled in slumber I was laid,

Bright visions o'er my fancy played.

With maidens, blooming as the dawn,

I seemed to skim the opening lawn;

Light, on tiptoe bathed in dew,

We flew, and sported as we flew!

  Some ruddy striplings, who lookt on—

With cheeks that like the wine-god's shone,

Saw me chasing, free and wild,

These blooming maids, and slyly smiled;

Smiled indeed with wanton glee,

Though none could doubt they envied me.

And still I flew—and now had caught

The panting nymphs, and fondly thought

To gather from each rosy lip

A kiss that Jove himself might sip—

When sudden all my dream of joys,

Blushing nymphs and laughing boys,

All were gone!—"Alas!" I said,

Sighing for the illusion fled,

"Again, sweet sleep, that scene restore,

Oh! let me dream it o'er and o'er!"[1]

[1] Dr. Johnson, in his preface to Shakespeare, animadverting upon the commentators of that poet, who pretended, in every little coincidence of thought, to detect an imitation of some ancient poet, alludes in the following words to the line of Anacreon before us: "I have been told that when Caliban, after a pleasing dream says, 'I cried to sleep again,' the author imitates Anacreon, who had, like any other man, the same wish on the same occasion."