CUPID AND HYMEN.
Cupid resign'd to Sylvia's care
His bow, and quiver stor'd with darts,
Commissioning the matchless fair
To fill his shrine with bleeding hearts.
His bow, and quiver stor'd with darts,
Commissioning the matchless fair
To fill his shrine with bleeding hearts.
His empire thus secur'd, he flies 5
To sport amid th' Idalian grove,
Whose feather'd quires proclaim'd the joys,
And bless'd the pleasing pow'r of Love.
To sport amid th' Idalian grove,
Whose feather'd quires proclaim'd the joys,
And bless'd the pleasing pow'r of Love.
The god their grateful songs engage
To spread his nets which Venus wrought, 10
Whilst Hymen held the golden cage,
To keep secure the game they caught.
To spread his nets which Venus wrought, 10
Whilst Hymen held the golden cage,
To keep secure the game they caught.
The warblers, brisk with genial flame,
Swift from the myrtle shades repair;
A willing captive each became, 15
And sweetlier caroll'd in the snare.
Swift from the myrtle shades repair;
A willing captive each became, 15
And sweetlier caroll'd in the snare.
When Hymen had receiv'd the prey,
To Cytherea's fane they flew,
Regardless, while they wing'd their way,
How sullen all the songsters grew. 20
To Cytherea's fane they flew,
Regardless, while they wing'd their way,
How sullen all the songsters grew. 20
