[Inscribed to Her Grace the Duchess of Devonshire.]
CLOSE in a woodbine’s tangled shade,
The BLOOMING GOD asleep was laid;
His brows with mossy roses crown’d;
His golden darts lay scatter’d round;
To shade his auburn, curled head,
A purple canopy was spread,
Which gently with the breezes play’d,
And shed around a soften’d shade.
Upon his downy smiling cheek,
Adorned with many a “dimple sleek,”
Beam’d glowing health and tender blisses,
His coral lip which teem’d with kisses
Ripe, glisten’d with ambrosial dew,
That mock’d the rose’s deepest hue.
His quiver on a bough was hung,
His bow lay carelessly unstrung:
His breath mild odour scatter’d round,
His eyes an azure fillet bound:
On every side did zephyrs play,
To fan the sultry beams of day;
While the soft tenants of the grove,
Attun’d their notes to plaintive Love.
Thus lay the Boywhen DEVONS feet
Unknowing reach’d the lone retreat;
Surpriz’d, to see the beauteous child
Of every dang’rous pow’r beguil’d!
Approaching near his mossy bed,
Soft whisp’ring to herself she said:
” Thou little imp, whose potent art
” Bows low with grief the FEELING HEART;
” Whose thirst insatiate, loves to sip
” The nectar from the ruby lip;
” Whose barb’rous joy is prone to seek
” The soft carnation of the cheek;
” Now, bid thy tyrant sway farewell,
” As thus I break each magic spell: ”
Snatch’d from the bough, where high it hung,
O’er her white shoulder straight she flung
The burnish’d quiver, golden dart,
And each vain emblem of his art;
Borne from his pow’r they now are seen,
The attributes of BEAUTY’S QUEEN!
While LOVE in secret hides his tears;
DIAN the form of VENUS wears!
(Mary Darby Robinson)
More Poetry from Mary Darby Robinson:
Mary Darby Robinson Poems based on Topics: Love, Art, Joy & Excitement, Beauty, Emotions, Kings & Queens, Secrets- Petrarch to Laura (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
- Sir Raymond of the Castle (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
- Old Barnard -- A Monkish Tale (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
- Ode to Vanity (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
- The Origin of Cupid -- A Fable (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
- London's Summer Morning (Mary Darby Robinson Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Joy & Excitement Poems, Kings & Queens Poems, Beauty Poems, Art Poems, Secrets Poems, Emotions PoemsBased on Keywords: teem, unstrung, imp, attributes, insatiate, whisp, auburn, zephyrs, barb, dimple, duchess