 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
46
CUPID and HYMEN.
Cupid
resign'd to Sylvia's Care
His Bow, and Quiver stor'd with Darts;
Commissioning the matchless Fair,
To fill his Shrine with bleeding Hearts.
His Bow, and Quiver stor'd with Darts;
Commissioning the matchless Fair,
To fill his Shrine with bleeding Hearts.
His Empire thus secur'd he flies
To sport amid th'Idalian Grove;
Whose feather'd Quires proclaim'd the Joys,
And bless'd the pleasing Pow'r of Love.
To sport amid th'Idalian Grove;
Whose feather'd Quires proclaim'd the Joys,
And bless'd the pleasing Pow'r of Love.
The God their grateful Songs engage,
To spread his Nets which Venus wrought;
Whilst Hymen held the golden Cage,
To keep secure the Game they caught.
To spread his Nets which Venus wrought;
47
To keep secure the Game they caught.
The Warblers, brisk with genial Flame,
Swift from the Myrtle Shades repair;
A willing Captive each became,
And sweetlier carrol'd in the Snare.
Swift from the Myrtle Shades repair;
A willing Captive each became,
And sweetlier carrol'd in the Snare.
When Hymen had receiv'd the Prey,
To Cytherea's Fane they Flew;
Regardless while they wing'd their way,
How sullen all the Songsters grew.
To Cytherea's Fane they Flew;
Regardless while they wing'd their way,
How sullen all the Songsters grew.
Alas! no sprightly Note is heard,
But each with silent Grief consumes;
Tho' to celestial Food prefer'd,
They pining drop their painted Plumes.
But each with silent Grief consumes;
Tho' to celestial Food prefer'd,
They pining drop their painted Plumes.
48
Cupid, afflicted at the Change,
To beg her Aid to Venus run;
She heard the Tale, nor thought it strange,
But, smiling, thus advis'd her Son:
To beg her Aid to Venus run;
She heard the Tale, nor thought it strange,
But, smiling, thus advis'd her Son:
Pleasure grows languid with restraint,
'Tis Nature's Privilege to roam:
If you'd not have your Linnets faint,
Leave Hymen with his Cage at home.
'Tis Nature's Privilege to roam:
If you'd not have your Linnets faint,
Leave Hymen with his Cage at home.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |