Ode 4. Bacchus! Father of all sport!

Barnabe Barnes (1569?–1609)

BACCHUS! Father of all sport!

Worker of Love’s comfort!

VENUS’ best beloved brother!

(Like beloved is none other!)

Greater Father of Felicity!

Fill full, with thy divinity,

These thirsty and these empty veins!

Thence, fuming up into my brains,

Exceed APOLLO, through thy might!

And make me, by thy motion light,

That, with alacrity, I may

Write pleasing Odes! and still display

PARTHENOPHE, with such high praises,

(Whose beauty, Shepherds all amazes)

And, by those means, her loves obtain!

Then, having filled up every vein,

I shall be set in perfect state

The rights of love to celebrate!

Then, each year, fat from my sheepcot,

Thy sacrifice, a tydie goat!

And [Greek] shall be

Loud chanted, everywhere, to thee!