University of Virginia Library

JUPITER AND DANAË:

OR, HOW TO WIN A WOMAN.

Imperial Jove, who, with wonderful art,
Was one of those suitors that always prevail,
Once made an assault on so flinty a heart
That he feared for a while he was destined to fail.

A beautiful maiden, Miss Danaë by name,
The Olympian lover endeavored to win;
But she peeped from the casement whenever he came,
Exclaiming, “You 're handsome, but cannot come in!”

With sweet adulation he tickled her ear;
But still at her window she quietly sat,
And said, though his speeches were pleasant to hear,
She 'd always been used to such homage as that!

Then he spoke, in a fervid and rapturous strain,
Of a bosom consuming with burning desire;
But his eloquent pleading was wholly in vain,—
She thought it imprudent to meddle with fire!

Then he begged her in mercy to pity his case,
And spoke of his dreadfully painful condition;
But the lady replied, with a sorrowful face,
She was only a maiden, and not a physician!

In vain with these cunning conventional snares,
To win her the gallant Lothario strove;
In spite of his smiles, and his tears, and his prayers,
She could n't, she would n't, be courted by Jove!

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At last he contrived,—so the story is told,—
By some means or other, one evening, to pour
Plump into her apron a shower of gold,
Which opened her heart,—and unbolted her door!