Apparently more proverbial than poetic

Poetic, proverbial and melodic, too.

["Alexander's Feast" by Handel]

'Twas at the Royal Feast,
for Persian won,
by Philip's warlike son:
Aloft, in awful state,
the god-like hero sate
on his imperial throne:

His valiant peers were plac'd around:
their brows with roses and with
myrtles bound:

So shou'd desert in arms be crown'd.

The lovely Thais by his side
sate like a blooming eastern bride,
in flow'r of youth, and beauty's pride.

N°3 Aria Tenore & Coro
Happy, happy,
happy pair!
none but the brave,
none but the brave deserve the fair.