THE
PROLOGUE.
CUPID in a Shepherd's Dress.
'TIS strange—but in a shepherd's poor disguise
A God conceals himself from curious eyes:
Yet no plebeian deity am I;
My power controuls the greatest of the sky.
Mars oft by me suspends his lust for war,
Foregoes his crimson sword, and rattling car:
Rough Neptune oft acknowledges my reign,
And drops the trident which compels the main,
Nay, my extensive influence reaches Jove,
Ruler of men below, and gods above;
Oft, at my will, some nymph's relaxing charms
The universe's governour disarms;
No more those bolts omnipotent are hurled
That shake Olympus, and chastise the world.
A God conceals himself from curious eyes:
Yet no plebeian deity am I;
My power controuls the greatest of the sky.
Mars oft by me suspends his lust for war,
Foregoes his crimson sword, and rattling car:
Rough Neptune oft acknowledges my reign,
And drops the trident which compels the main,
Nay, my extensive influence reaches Jove,
Ruler of men below, and gods above;
Oft, at my will, some nymph's relaxing charms
The universe's governour disarms;
No more those bolts omnipotent are hurled
That shake Olympus, and chastise the world.
Skreened by a simple shepherd's garb, and face,
My mother sure in vain my flight will trace.
Whene'er at simple hearts my shafts I aim,
I'm forced by stealth to leave my haughty dame;
For she, a very female, proud, and vain,
Despises empire of a modest strain;
Allows me not to prostitute my darts
(Such is her rant) to vile, ignoble hearts;
My mother sure in vain my flight will trace.
Whene'er at simple hearts my shafts I aim,
I'm forced by stealth to leave my haughty dame;
For she, a very female, proud, and vain,
Despises empire of a modest strain;
Allows me not to prostitute my darts
(Such is her rant) to vile, ignoble hearts;
Counts
