| |
| VENUS aloud, for her son CUPID cried, | |
| “If any spy LOVE gadding in the street, | |
| It is my rogue! He that shall him betray, | |
| For hire, of VENUS shall have kisses sweet! | |
| But thou that brings him, shall have more beside, | 5 |
| Thou shalt not only kiss, but as guest stay! | |
| By many marks, the Boy thou mayst bewray! | |
| ’Mongst twenty such beside, thou shalt perceive him! | |
| Not of a pale complexion, but like fire! | |
| Quick rolling eyes, and flaming in their gyre! | 10 |
| False heart! Sweet words, which quickly will deceive him, | |
| To whom he speaks! Sweet speech, at your desire; | |
| But vex him! then, as any wasp he stingeth! | |
| Lying, and false! if you receive him; | |
| A crafty lad! and cruel pastimes bringeth! | 15 |
| |
| A fair curled head, and a right waggish face! | |
| His hands are small; yet he shoots far away! | |
| For even so far as Acheron, he shooteth! | |
| And to the Infernal Monarch, his darts stray. | |
| Clothesless, he, naked goes in every place! | 20 |
| And yet to know his thoughts, it no man booteth! | |
| Swift, as a bird, he flies! and quickly footeth, | |
| Now to these men! and women, now to those! | |
| But yet he fits within their very marrow | |
| A little bow, and in that bow, an arrow! | 25 |
| A small flight-shaft, but still to heavenward goes! | |
| About his neck, a golden dart-barrow! | |
| In which, he placeth every bitter dart; | |
| Which, often, even at me! he throws! | |
| All full of cruelty! all full of smart! | 30 |
| And yet this thing more wondrous! A small brand | |
| That even the very sun itself doth burn! | |
| |
| If him thou take; pitiless, lead him, bound! | |
| And, if thou chance to see him weep, return! | |
| Then (lest he thee deceive), his tears withstand! | 35 |
| And if he laugh, draw him along the ground! | |
| If he would kiss, refuse! His lips confound! | |
| For those alone be poisoned evermore! | |
| But if he say, ‘Take! these I give to thee! | |
| All those my weapons which belong to me!’ | 40 |
| Touch them not, when he lays them, thee before! | |
Those gifts of his, all false and fiery be!”
F I N I S. | |
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