 | The poems, odes, songs, and other metrical effusions, of Samuel Woodworth |  |
175
CUPID'S LAMENTATION,
OR THE PUFF ALLEGORICAL.
On the banks of the Hudson, enamell'd with flowers,
Fair Venus reclined in a myrtle alcove;
Her doves were unyoked, and the wild-woven bowers
Were vocal with strains to the goddess of love:
Fair Venus reclined in a myrtle alcove;
Her doves were unyoked, and the wild-woven bowers
Were vocal with strains to the goddess of love:
When soaring on high o'er the city's gay throng,
Her son met her view, who approach'd her retreat;
On gossamer pinion he floated along,
And alighted mid roses that bloom'd at her feet.
Her son met her view, who approach'd her retreat;
On gossamer pinion he floated along,
And alighted mid roses that bloom'd at her feet.
“O Cupid! (she cried) what occasions this grief?
“And where is thy quiver, thy bow, and thy darts?”
“All gone, dear mama! O a sad wicked thief
“Has ruin'd thy son”—sobb'd the ruler of hearts.
“And where is thy quiver, thy bow, and thy darts?”
“All gone, dear mama! O a sad wicked thief
“Has ruin'd thy son”—sobb'd the ruler of hearts.
“I left you, but lately, to sport in the town,
“Where, mother, you promised me plenty of game;
“But though many I started, not one I run down,
“And Hymen, for me, may extinguish his flame.
“Where, mother, you promised me plenty of game;
“But though many I started, not one I run down,
“And Hymen, for me, may extinguish his flame.
“I peep'd in a shop, where a form met my view
“Whose beauty surpass'd that of mortals by far;
“So lovely, so fair, that I thought it was you,
“And entered to kiss and salute my mama.
“Whose beauty surpass'd that of mortals by far;
“So lovely, so fair, that I thought it was you,
“And entered to kiss and salute my mama.
176
“But an impudent mortal, who played with her hair,
“Which wanton'd in ringlets on forehead of snow;
“One lovely lock opened, and slyly hid there
“My ruby-tipp'd arrows and dear little bow.
“Which wanton'd in ringlets on forehead of snow;
“One lovely lock opened, and slyly hid there
“My ruby-tipp'd arrows and dear little bow.
“In vain I implored—he saw my tears flow,
“And tauntingly told me my prowess was o'er,
“When who should appear, but a gay little beau,
“Whom often in vain I had shot at before.
“And tauntingly told me my prowess was o'er,
“When who should appear, but a gay little beau,
“Whom often in vain I had shot at before.
“The moment his eye met a glance of the fair,
“His bosom beat quickly with rapturous bound,
“When one of my arrows flew swift from her hair,
“And entered that breast which I never could wound.
“His bosom beat quickly with rapturous bound,
“When one of my arrows flew swift from her hair,
“And entered that breast which I never could wound.
“Thus, thus, my dear mother, we both are undone,
“For mortals no more will solicit our care;
“This thief gives each ringlet the power of your son,
“And his art makes a Venus of each earthly fair.”
“For mortals no more will solicit our care;
“This thief gives each ringlet the power of your son,
“And his art makes a Venus of each earthly fair.”
“Where lives the usurper?” with anger she cried,
“Who dares on a mortal my beauties display?”
“In yonder great city”—the urchin replied—
“His name they call Huggins, he lives in Broadway.”
“Who dares on a mortal my beauties display?”
“In yonder great city”—the urchin replied—
“His name they call Huggins, he lives in Broadway.”
| The poems, odes, songs, and other metrical effusions, of Samuel Woodworth | |