Life and Phantasy by William Allingham: With frontispiece by Sir John E. Millais: A design by Arthur H. Hughes and a song for voice and piano forte |
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THE CUPIDS. |
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 | Life and Phantasy |  |
10
THE CUPIDS.
In a grove I saw one day
A flight of Cupids all at play,
Flitting bird-like through the air,
Soft alighting here and there,
Making every bough rejoice
With a most celestial voice,
Or among the blossoms found
Rolling on the swarded ground.
Some there were with wings of blue,
Other some, of rosy hue,
Here, one plumed with purest white,
There, as plunged in golden light;
Crimson some, and some I saw
Colour'd like a gay macaw.
Many were the Queen of Beauty's,
Many bound to other duties.
A flight of Cupids all at play,
Flitting bird-like through the air,
Soft alighting here and there,
Making every bough rejoice
With a most celestial voice,
Or among the blossoms found
Rolling on the swarded ground.
Some there were with wings of blue,
Other some, of rosy hue,
Here, one plumed with purest white,
There, as plunged in golden light;
Crimson some, and some I saw
Colour'd like a gay macaw.
Many were the Queen of Beauty's,
Many bound to other duties.
Band of fowlers next I spied,
Spreading nets on every side,
Watching long, by skill or hap
Fleeting Cupids to entrap.
But if one at length was ta'en,
After mickle time and pain,
Whether golden wing'd or blue,
Roseate, variegate, of hue,
When they put him in their cage
He grew meagre as with age,
Plumage rumpled, colour coarse,
Voice unfrequent, sad, and hoarse;
And little pleasure had they in him
Who had spent the day to win him.
Spreading nets on every side,
Watching long, by skill or hap
Fleeting Cupids to entrap.
But if one at length was ta'en,
After mickle time and pain,
Whether golden wing'd or blue,
Roseate, variegate, of hue,
When they put him in their cage
He grew meagre as with age,
Plumage rumpled, colour coarse,
Voice unfrequent, sad, and hoarse;
And little pleasure had they in him
Who had spent the day to win him.
| Life and Phantasy | |