Cupid turned volunteer In a series of prints, designed by Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth; and Engraved by W. N. Gardiner: With poetical illustrations by Thomas Park |
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CUPID DEPOSITS HIS BANNER IN THE TEMPLE OF MINERVA. |
 | Cupid turned volunteer |  |
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CUPID DEPOSITS HIS BANNER IN THE TEMPLE OF MINERVA.
Love leaps with rapture at the joyous sound—The fane of Pallas hears his footsteps bound,
For there Augusta's flag triumphantly he bears;
But ere again at amorous hearts,
He points his dove-plum'd darts,
Thus warmly breathe his patriotic prayers:—
Goddess! renown'd for wisdom as for war,
Be Albion's manly race your darling care;
And let that sea-green band which Neptune wove,
Stubbs, a strenuous opposer of Queen Elizabeth's projected match with the Duke of Anjou, thus strikingly expressed himself in a tract entitled, The Discoveringe of a Gapinge Gulphe, &c. 1579.—“The best brydle that we can have to keepe in proude France are the naturally brydeling bands of the sea, wherewith God hath compassed us about; and the surest gyrths which hold us in our saddle, are the peace and good order of our land.”—For a farther account of this tract and the author, vide Nugæ Antiquæ, Vol. I. edit. 1804.
To swathe in infancy his favourite isle,
Be still its bloodless girdle, and pure love
Draw from approving Heav'n a skyey smile!
So through each nereid's pearly cave,
While echo floats upon the listening wave,
Still may resound that charter'd strain
Which hails Britannia, Empress of the Main!
Still may her sons be fam'd through every clime
For deeds of spotless faith, and dauntless soul sublime!
| Cupid turned volunteer | |