The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson including many pieces never before published. In Three Volumes |
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| II. |
 | III. |
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CUPID SLEEPING.
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 | The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson |  |
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CUPID SLEEPING.
INSCRIBED TO GEORGINA, DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE.
Close in a woodbine's tangled shade,
The blooming god asleep was laid;
His brows with mossy roses crown'd,
His golden darts lay scatter'd round;
To shade his auburn curled head
A purple canopy was spread,
Which gently with the breezes play'd,
And shed around a soften'd shade.
Upon his downy smiling cheek,
Adorn'd with many a dimple sleek,
Beam'd glowing health, and tender blisses;
His coral lips, which teem'd with kisses
Moist, glisten'd with ambrosial dew
That reach'd the rose's deepest hue;
His quiver on a bough was hung,
His bow lay carelessly unstrung;
His breath mild odour scatter'd round,
His eyes an azure fillet bound:
On ev'ry side did zephyrs play
To fan the sultry beams of day;
While the soft tenants of the grove,
Attun'd their notes to plaintive love.
The blooming god asleep was laid;
His brows with mossy roses crown'd,
His golden darts lay scatter'd round;
To shade his auburn curled head
A purple canopy was spread,
Which gently with the breezes play'd,
And shed around a soften'd shade.
Upon his downy smiling cheek,
Adorn'd with many a dimple sleek,
Beam'd glowing health, and tender blisses;
His coral lips, which teem'd with kisses
Moist, glisten'd with ambrosial dew
That reach'd the rose's deepest hue;
His quiver on a bough was hung,
His bow lay carelessly unstrung;
131
His eyes an azure fillet bound:
On ev'ry side did zephyrs play
To fan the sultry beams of day;
While the soft tenants of the grove,
Attun'd their notes to plaintive love.
Thus lay the boy—when Devon's feet
Unknowing reach'd the lone retreat;
Surpris'd to see the beauteous child
Of every dang'rous pow'r beguil'd!
Approaching near his mossy bed,
Soft whisp'ring to herself she said:—
“Thou little imp, whose potent art
“Bows low with grief the feeling heart;
“Whose thirst insatiate loves to sip
“The nectar from the ruby lip;
“Whose barb'rous joy is prone to seek
“The soft carnation of the cheek;
“Now, bid thy tyrant sway farewell,
“As thus I break each magic spell.”
Snatch'd from the bough, where high it hung,
O'er her white shoulder straight she flung
The burnish'd quiver, golden dart,
And each vain emblem of his art;
Borne from his pow'r they now are seen,
The attributes of beauty's queen!
While love in secret hides his tears;
Dian the form of Venus wears!
Unknowing reach'd the lone retreat;
Surpris'd to see the beauteous child
Of every dang'rous pow'r beguil'd!
Approaching near his mossy bed,
Soft whisp'ring to herself she said:—
“Thou little imp, whose potent art
“Bows low with grief the feeling heart;
“Whose thirst insatiate loves to sip
“The nectar from the ruby lip;
“Whose barb'rous joy is prone to seek
“The soft carnation of the cheek;
“Now, bid thy tyrant sway farewell,
“As thus I break each magic spell.”
Snatch'd from the bough, where high it hung,
O'er her white shoulder straight she flung
The burnish'd quiver, golden dart,
And each vain emblem of his art;
132
The attributes of beauty's queen!
While love in secret hides his tears;
Dian the form of Venus wears!
| The Poetical Works of the late Mrs Mary Robinson | |