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Venus Speech.
Brave Prince, to whom the Goddesses have been
Both suppliants, endeavouring to win
The Prize, which only does belong to me,
The Fates themselves grant the Priority.
They promise Conquest, Wisdom, and a Throne,
All this is nought but what's before thy own.
But yet suppose it so, cou'dst thou delight
In cruel Wars, where blood doth blood excite?
Is this the way to gain thee honour? No,
Kingdoms thou mayst possess, and perish so.
Who gains by Blood and Death, shall, at the price,
Have the reward of blood and avarice.
Or rather, wouldst thou chuse on Beds of Down,
In Cupids Fields to gain the sweet renown,
Spending thy youthful days in merriment,
Such as pale War did never yet invent,
With Grecian Dames, whose Beauty may not be
Exprest by Tongue, or Pens Indignity?
If this can please, give me the Prize, I sue
Both as my merit, and my Beauties due;
And thou shalt gain a Lady, such another
Titans Majestick Raies did ne're discover;
Whose Beauties form there's none can Parallel,
Her Skin for Whiteness does as far excel
The driven Snow, as does the Suns bright Raies
A glittering Star: shou'd I disclose her praise,
How red unto the sight her Cheeks do seem,
That you wou'd term her to be Beauties Queen;
Indulgent Nature out of all her store,
Has not enough to make one Beauty more.
Both suppliants, endeavouring to win
The Prize, which only does belong to me,
The Fates themselves grant the Priority.
They promise Conquest, Wisdom, and a Throne,
All this is nought but what's before thy own.
But yet suppose it so, cou'dst thou delight
In cruel Wars, where blood doth blood excite?
Is this the way to gain thee honour? No,
Kingdoms thou mayst possess, and perish so.
58
Have the reward of blood and avarice.
Or rather, wouldst thou chuse on Beds of Down,
In Cupids Fields to gain the sweet renown,
Spending thy youthful days in merriment,
Such as pale War did never yet invent,
With Grecian Dames, whose Beauty may not be
Exprest by Tongue, or Pens Indignity?
If this can please, give me the Prize, I sue
Both as my merit, and my Beauties due;
And thou shalt gain a Lady, such another
Titans Majestick Raies did ne're discover;
Whose Beauties form there's none can Parallel,
Her Skin for Whiteness does as far excel
The driven Snow, as does the Suns bright Raies
A glittering Star: shou'd I disclose her praise,
How red unto the sight her Cheeks do seem,
That you wou'd term her to be Beauties Queen;
Indulgent Nature out of all her store,
Has not enough to make one Beauty more.
Now Paris burns with Love, his warm desire
At length is turn'd into a Flame of Fire;
He knows no medium now, Love sways each Part,
And reigns as Monarch o're his very Heart;
And, with a willing Hand, he gives the Ball
To Venus, most deserving it of all.
Juno, and Pallas, with an ireful Eye,
Ascend into the Turrets of the Skie,
There mindful of their wrongs, deliberate
The Ruine of the mighty Trojan State.
At length is turn'd into a Flame of Fire;
He knows no medium now, Love sways each Part,
And reigns as Monarch o're his very Heart;
And, with a willing Hand, he gives the Ball
To Venus, most deserving it of all.
Juno, and Pallas, with an ireful Eye,
Ascend into the Turrets of the Skie,
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The Ruine of the mighty Trojan State.
------ Manet altâ mente repôstum
Judicium Paridis spretæq; injuria formæ.
Judicium Paridis spretæq; injuria formæ.
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