 | The Sports of the Genii |  |
2
CUPID'S HOLIDAY.
(JANUARY 25, 1797 .)
“BRING my new car and swiftest doves,”
Cry'd Cupid to the laughing Loves
That flutter'd round his throne.
Eager his mandate to obey,
A thousand pinions flit away.
When his commands are known.
Cry'd Cupid to the laughing Loves
That flutter'd round his throne.
Eager his mandate to obey,
A thousand pinions flit away.
When his commands are known.
“Here! take my quiver and my bow—
“I shall not need them, now, below:”
Then mounts his equipage;
While Zephyr seem'd to lag behind,
As if he felt not much inclin'd
The peril to engage.
“I shall not need them, now, below:”
Then mounts his equipage;
While Zephyr seem'd to lag behind,
As if he felt not much inclin'd
The peril to engage.
3
Quoth he, “What whimsy have we here,
“To travel at this time of year,
“And visit folks below?
“When not a leaf is to be seen,
“Except some prim old evergreen
“Just peeping thro' the snow.
“To travel at this time of year,
“And visit folks below?
“When not a leaf is to be seen,
“Except some prim old evergreen
“Just peeping thro' the snow.
“No roses scent the chilly air;
“No blushing pink, or lily fair:
“And, for your hot-house plants,
“Supposing one could gain admission,
“'Tis only fit for a physician
“To seek their sickly haunts.
“No blushing pink, or lily fair:
“And, for your hot-house plants,
“Supposing one could gain admission,
“'Tis only fit for a physician
“To seek their sickly haunts.
“Dear Master, let us wait awhile,
“Till Nature shall begin to smile,
“And her full chorus sings.
“My boist'rous brothers are abroad:
“If we should meet them on the road,
“They'll tear my silken wings.”
“Till Nature shall begin to smile,
“And her full chorus sings.
“My boist'rous brothers are abroad:
“If we should meet them on the road,
“They'll tear my silken wings.”
4
“Peace! fool,” cry'd Cupid: “haste away:
“I'm going to keep Holiday;
“And Joy shall hold my rein.
“A lovely Princess, I am told,
“Such as adorn'd the times of old,
“Now smiles on Earth again.
“I'm going to keep Holiday;
“And Joy shall hold my rein.
“A lovely Princess, I am told,
“Such as adorn'd the times of old,
“Now smiles on Earth again.
“They tell me, that her infant face
“Already beams with ev'ry grace
“That my lov'd Psyche dress'd,
“When in such sort the budding flow'r
“Of Beauty show'd its wondrous pow'r
“To sway the raptur'd breast.
“Already beams with ev'ry grace
“That my lov'd Psyche dress'd,
“When in such sort the budding flow'r
“Of Beauty show'd its wondrous pow'r
“To sway the raptur'd breast.
“I fain would view the lovely maid,
“That shall my falling altars aid,
“And point my golden dart;
“Ere Envy can, with pois'nous tooth,
“Canker the blossoms of her youth,
“Or Malice wound her heart.”
“That shall my falling altars aid,
“And point my golden dart;
“Ere Envy can, with pois'nous tooth,
“Canker the blossoms of her youth,
“Or Malice wound her heart.”
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