A poore Knight his Pallace of priuate pleasures Gallantly garnished, with goodly Galleries of strang inuentio[n]s and prudently polished, with sundry pleasant Posies, & other fine fancies of dainty deuices, and rare delightes. Written by a student in Ca[m]bridge. And published by I. C. Gent |
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A description of Cupid his host.
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 | A poore Knight his Pallace of priuate pleasures |  |
A description of Cupid his host.
The Gods beeing met & Venus sonne, beeing garnished in this wise,By whole consent to vanquish her, which did his lawes dispise,
Mars is assended vp the Couch, to guide the horses right,
And Cupid stands with bow in hand, to send forth euery knight.
Then Venus layd her heauenly head, vpon God Mars his lap,
And sayd my Lorde, wee trust on you, to gouerne well our hap.
The cheefest Captaine of the rout, Audacity was named,
Whose safe conduct of all the host, deserues not to be blamed.
With him hee led forth Pollicy, Cupid his only stay,
These vndertooke by Mars his will, to guide the host that day.
The second Captaine, Curtesy, a valiant host did leade,
Who had Delight adioynde to him, to helpe him at his neede.
The Captayne graund, did bid them both, the right wing to possesse,
And alwayes to attend the same, to driue away distresse.
And on the lefte side, ietted Rage, with cruell Tyranny,
Which were as aydes vnto the host, led by Audacity.
I haue not here rescited those, which petty Captaynes were,
Only my Morpheus charged mee, the cheefe for to declare.
That Drunkennesse and Drowsinesse, did set them in aray.
Dissention ran from host to host, and Riot stood not still,
But all adioynd their helping hands, and furdered with good will.
I let passe all the Souldiers names, the labor were to long,
And yet my booke would not containe, the names of all the throng.
Thus euery thing beeing finished, ech Souldier standing still,
Beholde a proclamation, was made by Cupids will.
Which offered giftes aboundantly, to any souldier there.
To vndertake in Dians tente, a message to declare.
And greete her hartely from him, which blinded bare the bow,
Commaunding her to yeelde in time, and quiet peace to show.
Or els with dint of martiall blade, hee would dispatch her quite,
And teache all other to beware for to resist his might.
Desire a champion of great pride, whose force deserued fame,
Before the Gods, and Venus faire, on knee did aske the same.
Which when the Gods had graunted him, and Cupid gaue consent,
Hee tooke his leaue of all the trayne, and forth to Dian went.
Come let vs go (quoth Morpheus then) this greeting for to here,
I am content my Lord (quoth I) to attend both here and there,
To vew Dianas Court (quoth hee) for to discribe the same,
To heare the answere to Desire, to know the Captaines name.
For shee was ready furnished, of Souldiers at her will,
And euery court garnished, with Captaynes of great skill.
Desire, who longed to tell his tale, approcht this Dame vnto,
With duty done for curtesie, had chargde him so to doo.
But sith my Angell bad mee first, for to discribe her traine,
And sith to sound a true report my Morphes tooke such paine.
I thinke it most conuenient, seeing time doth serue so fit,
Before Desire haue tolde his tale, for to discouer it.
| A poore Knight his Pallace of priuate pleasures | |