XCVI.
[What ayles poore Venus nowe to sit alone]
In this Passion, the Authour in skoffing bitterly at Venus, and
her sonne Cupid, alludeth vnto certaine verses in Ouid, but inuerteth
them to an other sense, then Ouid vsed, who wrote
them vpon the death of Tibullus. These are the verses, which
he imitateth,
Ecce puer Veneris fert euersamque phraretram,
Et fractos arcus, & sine luce facem.
Aspice demissis vt eat miserabilis alis,
Pectoraque infesta tondat aperta manu, &c.
Net minus est confusa Uenus. &c,
Quàm iuuenis rupit cum ferus inguen aper,
What
ayles poore Venus nowe to sit alone
In funerall attyre, her woonted hew
Quite chang'd, her smile to teares, her myrth to mean:
As though Adonis woundes nowe bled anew,
Or she with young Iulus late return'd
From seeing her Æneas carkas burn'd.
Alack for woe, what ayles her little Boy,
To haue his tender cheekes besprent with teares,
And sit and sighe, where he was wonte to toy?
How happes, no longer he his quiuer weares,
But breakes his Boe, throwing the shiuers by,
And pluckes his winges, and lettes his fyrebrand dye?
No, Dame and Darling too, yee come to late,
To winne me now, as you haue done tofore;
I liue secure, and quiet in estate,
Fully resolu'd from louing any more:
Goe pack for shame from hence to Cyprus Ile,
And there goe play your prankes an other while.
