The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton with an essay on the Rowley poems by the Rev. Walter W. Skeat and a memoir by Edward Bell |
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 | The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton |  |
Scene IV.
Juno and Cupid.CUPID.
Recitative.
Ho! mistress Juno—here's a storm a-brewing—Your devil of a spouse is always doing—
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Jove and Miss Maia—you may guess the rest—
JUNO.
How! what? when? where?—nay, pri'thee now, unfold it.
CUPID.
'Gad—so I will; for, faith, I cannot hold it.
His mighty godship in a fiery flurry
Met me just now—confusion to his hurry!
I stopt his way, forsooth, and, with a thwack,
He laid a thunderbolt across my back:
Bless me! I feel it now—my short ribs ache yet—
I vowed revenge, and now, by Styx, I'll take it.
Miss Maia, in her chamber, after nine,
Receives the thunderer, in his robes divine.
I undermined it all; see, here's the letter—
Could dukes spell worse, whose tutors spelt no better?
You know false spelling now is much the fashion—
JUNO.
Lend me your drops—oh! I shall swoon with passion!
I'll tear her eyes out! oh! I'll stab—I'll strangle!
And worse than lover's English, her I'll mangle!
CUPID.
Nay, pray be calm; I've hit off an expedient
To do you right—
JUNO.
Sweet Cupid, your obedient—
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Tie Maia by the leg; steal in her stead
Into the smuggled raptures of her bed;
When the god enters, let him take possession.
JUNO.
An excellent scheme! My joy's beyond expression!
CUPID.
Nay, never stay; delaying may confute it.
JUNO.
O happy thought! I fly to execute it.
[Exit Juno.
| The Poetical Works of Thomas Chatterton | |