Poems; original and translated by Charles Rann Kennedy ... and Two Poems by the Rev. Rann Kennedy. New Edition. By Charles Rann Kennedy |
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MARS AND MINERVA. |
 | Poems; original and translated |  |
102
MARS AND MINERVA.
When Mars by Vulcan had been found
Committing trespass on his ground,
(I might perhaps have spoken plainer,
But decency would be no gainer;)
Committing trespass on his ground,
(I might perhaps have spoken plainer,
But decency would be no gainer;)
The Goddesses were vastly shock'd,
They blush'd, they titter'd, and they mock'd;
Poor Venus, no one would receive her;
The married gods were in a fever;
They blush'd, they titter'd, and they mock'd;
Poor Venus, no one would receive her;
The married gods were in a fever;
And many a one was heard to say,
“Whose turn is next to come, I pray?”
Alarm'd was Hercules for Hebe,
And Phœbus for his sister Phœbe:
“Whose turn is next to come, I pray?”
Alarm'd was Hercules for Hebe,
And Phœbus for his sister Phœbe:
Saith Juno privately to Jove,
“This is a sad affair, my love:
What can be done?” Saith Jove to Juno,
“I really cannot tell; do you know?”
“This is a sad affair, my love:
What can be done?” Saith Jove to Juno,
“I really cannot tell; do you know?”
“A thought just strikes me; thank the stars!
Suppose we find a wife for Mars:
If we can get him once to marry,
At home he will be forced to tarry.”
Suppose we find a wife for Mars:
If we can get him once to marry,
At home he will be forced to tarry.”
103
“And who's to be the lady then?”
Inquired the King of Gods and men:
To which she answer'd with a query,
“What think you of Minerva, deary?”
Inquired the King of Gods and men:
To which she answer'd with a query,
“What think you of Minerva, deary?”
“My favourite child!” the Monarch said;
“Who vows to live and die a maid!”
“Such vows,” replied the Consort regal,
“Are neither binding, sir, nor legal.
“Who vows to live and die a maid!”
“Such vows,” replied the Consort regal,
“Are neither binding, sir, nor legal.
And pray consider, if you please,
The match brings great advantages;
Our son with Pallas for adviser
Must surely steadier grow and wiser:
The match brings great advantages;
Our son with Pallas for adviser
Must surely steadier grow and wiser:
The veriest rake with such a wife
Would soon amend his mode of life:”
Her counsel to reform the pickle
Did mightily the Thunderer tickle:
Would soon amend his mode of life:”
Her counsel to reform the pickle
Did mightily the Thunderer tickle:
“It shall be so; I'm quite agreed:”
He rang the bell for Ganymede:
“We'll drink to Mars and his corrector!”
Saturnia smiled, and sipp'd the nectar:
He rang the bell for Ganymede:
“We'll drink to Mars and his corrector!”
Saturnia smiled, and sipp'd the nectar:
“Here's to the War-god and his bride!”
With hearty laugh the Monarch cried,
And drain'd his cup of sparkling ruby:
“He don't deserve her though, the booby!”
With hearty laugh the Monarch cried,
And drain'd his cup of sparkling ruby:
“He don't deserve her though, the booby!”
104
Mars liked not much the haughty fair;
Yet promise of a dowry rare,
Of title high and princely splendour,
Soon overcame his scruples tender:
Yet promise of a dowry rare,
Of title high and princely splendour,
Soon overcame his scruples tender:
At first Minerva play'd the prude,
And would not hear of being woo'd;
By slow degrees her heart relented,
And she, to please papa, consented.
And would not hear of being woo'd;
By slow degrees her heart relented,
And she, to please papa, consented.
So matters stood, till one fine day
Jupiter met the son of May;
They sat down sociably together,
And, after talking of the weather,
Jupiter met the son of May;
They sat down sociably together,
And, after talking of the weather,
Quoth Hermes: “May I be so bold?
You mean to wed, sir, I am told,
Your daughter to the God of battle?
Is't true, or only tittle-tattle?”
You mean to wed, sir, I am told,
Your daughter to the God of battle?
Is't true, or only tittle-tattle?”
“Tis true”—“I came with all dispatch
To speak to you about this match:
For to advise is my vocation:”
Jove nodded here in approbation:
To speak to you about this match:
For to advise is my vocation:”
Jove nodded here in approbation:
“My trusty Hermes, what you think
Speak boldly out, and nothing blink:
There's not a person whose opinion
I value more in my dominion.”
Speak boldly out, and nothing blink:
There's not a person whose opinion
I value more in my dominion.”
105
“Then hear, great Jove. I mean no slur
Upon the War-god's character;
But you must be aware most fully
That he's a blusterer and a bully:
Upon the War-god's character;
But you must be aware most fully
That he's a blusterer and a bully:
To quarrel both with great and small
For him is quite professional;
He's always kicking up a riot,
And only you can keep him quiet:
For him is quite professional;
He's always kicking up a riot,
And only you can keep him quiet:
Controll'd by your imperial curb,
The peace of heaven he can't disturb;
For Strength that lacketh rhyme or reason
Ne'er prospers nor in sport nor treason.
The peace of heaven he can't disturb;
For Strength that lacketh rhyme or reason
Ne'er prospers nor in sport nor treason.
Pallas by counsel guards your throne,
Submits to you and you alone;
Your self-born child; so you proclaim her;
We the Celestials Wisdom name her:
Submits to you and you alone;
Your self-born child; so you proclaim her;
We the Celestials Wisdom name her:
Her nature is to peace inclined,
Though she can fight when she's a mind,
As Mimas and that ruffian Cœus
Found to their cost, with big Typhœus:
Though she can fight when she's a mind,
As Mimas and that ruffian Cœus
Found to their cost, with big Typhœus:
Her shield before us all she threw,
And put to flight the rebel crew:
Without her Ægis, where, I wonder,
Would Jove have been with all his thunder?
And put to flight the rebel crew:
Without her Ægis, where, I wonder,
Would Jove have been with all his thunder?
106
Excuse me, sir; but by the Styx,
I don't admire your politics:
To Mars you'd give the peerless Maiden
With burden of your empire laden!
I don't admire your politics:
To Mars you'd give the peerless Maiden
With burden of your empire laden!
He left us in a sulky fit,
Not pleased at your command to quit;
But fortified by this alliance
He'll set your Highness at defiance.”
Not pleased at your command to quit;
But fortified by this alliance
He'll set your Highness at defiance.”
“Sure, my Cyllenius, you're in joke.”
“I never more in earnest spoke:
If Mars should wed the fair Virago,
For aught I see, to pot we may go.
“I never more in earnest spoke:
If Mars should wed the fair Virago,
For aught I see, to pot we may go.
With Mistress Pallas at his side,
His lack of wit by her supplied—
I know not if the rascal scurvy
Won't turn Olympus topsy-turvy.”
His lack of wit by her supplied—
I know not if the rascal scurvy
Won't turn Olympus topsy-turvy.”
“But won't it then her duty be,
The same as now, to stand by me?
Think you, Cyllenius, there is danger
That marriage will from Jove estrange her?”
The same as now, to stand by me?
Think you, Cyllenius, there is danger
That marriage will from Jove estrange her?”
“She will be subject to her spouse
By virtue of the nuptial vows:
And who's to say, she would not rather
Obey her Husband than her Father?
By virtue of the nuptial vows:
And who's to say, she would not rather
Obey her Husband than her Father?
107
By sovereign Power should Wisdom stand,
And Force keep under her command:
Let witless Force be Wisdom's master,
And nought can follow but disaster.”
And Force keep under her command:
Let witless Force be Wisdom's master,
And nought can follow but disaster.”
He ceas'd. The Father of the Gods
Again in approbation nods:
“Well, my good Hermes, have you spoken:
The match from this day off is broken.”
Again in approbation nods:
“Well, my good Hermes, have you spoken:
The match from this day off is broken.”
| Poems; original and translated | |