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William Cowper - By Moschus
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I slept when Venus enter`d: to my bed
A Cupid in her beauteous hand she led,
A bashful seeming boy, and thus she said:
"Shepherd, receive my little one! I bring
An untaught love, whom thou must teach to sing."
She said, and left him.  I, suspecting nought,
Many a sweet strain my subtle pupil taught,
How reed to reed Pan first with osier bound,
How Pallas form`d the pipe of softest sound,
How Hermes gave the lute, and how the quire
Of Phoebus owe to Phoebus` self the lyre.
Such were my themes; my themes nought heeded he
But ditties sang of amorous sort to me.
The pangs that mortals and immortals prove
From Venus` influence and the darts of love.
Thus was the teacher by the pupil taught;
His lessons I retain`d, he mine forgot.
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