---

Matthew Prior - Mercury And Cupid
Work rating: Low

In sullen Humour one Day Jove 
Sent Hermes down to Ida`s Grove,
Commanding Cupid to deliver
His Store of Darts, his total Quiver;
That Hermes shou`d the Weapons break,
Or throw `em into Lethe`s Lake.

Hermes, You know, must do his Errand:
He found his Man, produc`d his Warrant:
Cupid, your Darts—this very Hour—
There`s no contending against Power.

How sullen Jupiter, just now
I think I said: and You`ll allow,
That Cupid was as bad as He:
Hear but the Youngster`s Repartee.

Come Kinsman (said the little God)
Put off your Wings; lay by your Rod;
Retire with Me to yonder Bower;
And rest your self for half an Hour:
`Tis far indeed from hence to Heav`n:
And You fly fast: and `tis but Seven.
We`ll take one cooling Cup of Nectar;
And drink to this Celestial Hector—

He break my Darts, or hurt my Pow`r!
He, Leda`s Swan, and Danae`s Show`r!
Go, bid him his Wife`s Tongue restrain;
And mind his Thunder, and his Rain.—

My Darts? O certainly I`ll give `em:
From Cloe`s Eyes He shall receive `em.
There`s One, the Best in all my Quiver,
Twang! thro` his very Heart and Liver.
He then shall Pine, and Sigh, and Rave:
Good Lord! what Bustle shall We have!
Neptune must straight be sent to Sea;
And Flora summon`d twice a-day:

One must find Shells, and t`other Flow`rs,
For cooling Grotts, and fragrant Bow`rs,
That Cloe may be serv`d in State:
The Hours must at Her Toilet wait:
Whilst all the reasoning Fools below,
Wonder their Watches go too slow.
Lybs must fly South, and Eurus East,
For Jewels for Her Hair and Breast:
No Matter tho` their cruel Haste
Sink Cities, and lay Forrests waste.
No Matter tho` This Fleet be lost;
Or That lie wind-bound on the Coast.
What whis`pring in my Mother`s Ear!
What Care, that Juno shou`d not hear!
What Work among You Scholar Gods!
Phoebus must write Him am`rous Odes:
And Thou, poor Cousin, must compose
His Letters in submissive Prose:
Whilst haughty Cloe, to sustain
The Honour of My mystic Reign,
Shall all his Gifts and Vows disdain;
And laugh at your Old Bully`s Pain.
Dear Couz, said Hermes in a Fright,
For Heav`n sake keep Your Darts: Good Night.
Source
The script ran 0.001 seconds.