229 CUPID'S MISTAKE. CUPID'S MISTAKE. As after noon, one summer's day New strung his bow, new fill'd his quiver. With skill he chose his sharpest dart; "I faint! I die!" the goddess cried: Like Nero, thou hast slain thy mother! Poor Cupid, sobbing, scarce could speak; "Indeed, Mamma, I did not know ye. Alas! how easy my mistake! I took you for your likeness-Chloe." Matthew Prior. 230 HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTY. HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTY. (LINES TO MRS. BIDDY FLOYD.) WHEN Cupid did his grandsire Jove entreat LOVE'S PATIENCE. WHEN raging love with extreme pain LOVE'S PATIENCE. I call to mind the navy great That the Greeks brought to Troy town: And how the boisterous winds did beat Their ships, and rent their sails adown; Till Agamemnon's daughter's blood Appeas'd the gods that them withstood; And how that in those ten years war Then think I thus: "Sith such repair, Shall I not learn to suffer, then? Therefore I never will repent, But pains contented still endure; For like as when, rough winter spent, The pleasing spring straight draweth in ure; So after raging storms of care, Joyful at length may be my fare. H. Howard (Earl of Surrey) 231 232 LOVE'S MIGHT. LOVE'S MIGHT. HEAR, ye ladies that despise, Fair Calisto was a nun; Danaë, in a brazen tower Where no love was, loved a shower. Hear, ye ladies that are coy, What the mighty love can do; Fear the fierceness of the boy: The chaste moon he makes to woo; Vesta, kindling holy fires, Circled round about with spies, Never dreaming loose desires, Doting at the altar dies; Ilion, in a short hour, higher He can build, and once more fire. Beaumont and Fletcher. THE HEART OF STONE. 233 THE HEART OF STONE. WHENCE comes my love? O heart, disclose; The blushing cheek speaks modest mind, Yet all so fair but speak my moan, Sith nought doth say the heart of stone. Why thus, my love, so kind bespeak Sweet eye, sweet lip, sweet blushing cheek- Oh Venus, take thy gifts again! Make not so fair to cause our moan, Sir John Harrington. |