Poem by Thomas Moore

A Temple to Friendship

“A TEMPLE to Friendship,” cried Laura, enchanted,
“I ’ll build in this garden; the thought is divine.”
So the temple was built, and she now only wanted
An image of Friendship, to place on the shrine.

So she flew to the sculptor, who sat down before her
An image, the fairest his art could invent;
But so cold, and so dull, that the youthful adorer
Saw plainly this was not the Friendship she meant.

“O, never,” said she, “could I think of enshrining
An image whose looks are so joyless and dim;
But you little god upon roses reclining,
We ’ll make, if you please, sir, a Friendship of him.”

So the bargain was struck; with the little god laden,
She joyfully flew to her home in the grove.
“Farewell,” said the sculptor, “you ’re not the first maiden  
Who came but for Friendship, and took away Love!”

1. From “The Odes of Anacreon”. Ode 16
2. From “Irish Melodies”. 123. From This Hour the Pledge Is Given
3. From “The Odes of Anacreon”. Ode 32
4. From “The Odes of Anacreon”. Ode 6
5. From “Irish Melodies”. 26. Erin, Oh Erin

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