John Dryden (1631–1700)

YOU pleasing dreams of love and sweet delight,

Appear before this slumbering virgin’s sight;

Soft visions set her free

From mournful piety.

Let her sad thoughts from heaven retire,

And let the melancholy love

Of those remoter joys above

Give place to your more sprightly fire.

Let purling streams be in her fancy seen,

And flowery meads, and vales of cheerful green,

And in the midst of deathless groves

Soft sighing wishes lie,

And smiling hopes fast by,

And just beyond them ever-laughing loves.