University of Virginia Library

To Venus.

Venus , I oft have heard thy Name,
Ador'd thy God-head, felt thy Flame;
And oft invok'd thy Power, to find
Some mercy in a Female mind.
And Cupid, I to thee did pay
My faithful Orisons each day;
And thou so well perform'dst thy Part,
I reign'd o're many a Virgins Heart.
But now I've other work to do,
Faith thou must Court thy Mother too.
Nay, many such a trick is done,
A Mother cheated by her Son.
And thou, my pritty courtly Lad,
Of me shall find a loving Dad.
No clam'rous Mars shall make thee fear,
Nor Vulcans Horns become a jear,
Nor yet his Net, which did proclaim
To all the Gods thy Mothers shame;
Tell her I'm active, young, and free,
And that, I'm sure, thou know'st I be;
A Lover too, thou oft did'st prove
The mighty force I had in Love.
Nor can my Parts, so well inclin'd,
Fail for to please thy Mothers mind;
Nor will this Match be a disgrace,
Since I supply Anchises place,
Or young Adonis, who did move
Thy Beauteous Mother once to love;
Nor can'st thou this my passion blame,
That art the Author of my Flame.
Consider then the wound you gave,
Whose Power alone has strength to save;
And let thy never-erring Dart
Reign Monarch of thy Mothers Heart;
Least from my Arms her self she shroud,
And I embrace Ixion's Cloud,
And courting of the Substance, may
With empty Shaddows only play,
Which ne're can quench my ardent Flame,
That's as Immortal as her Name.