A boy with the the divine gift of beauty may conquer "each heart he lists" nor needs Cupid's "shafts to aid his victories"
— Mason, William (1725-1797)
Author
Work Title
Date
1797
Metaphor
A boy with the the divine gift of beauty may conquer "each heart he lists" nor needs Cupid's "shafts to aid his victories"
Metaphor in Context
Ven.
Chang'd as he was, the youth repair'd to Lesbos,
Where Sappho saw, and, need I add, ador'd him.
For, Cupid, well thou know'st, the tender soul,
That Poesy inspires, is very wax
To Beauty's piercing ray: the blooming boy,
More raptur'd with her lyre than with her form,
Feign'd real passion; swore eternal truth.
Yet scarce the waning moon had heard his vows,
Ere all those vows were broke, and perjur'd Phaon
Parted for Sicily; where now he reigns
Here like ourselves, my Son, all-absolute,
Conquering each heart he lists, nor needs thy shafts
To aid his victories.
Chang'd as he was, the youth repair'd to Lesbos,
Where Sappho saw, and, need I add, ador'd him.
For, Cupid, well thou know'st, the tender soul,
That Poesy inspires, is very wax
To Beauty's piercing ray: the blooming boy,
More raptur'd with her lyre than with her form,
Feign'd real passion; swore eternal truth.
Yet scarce the waning moon had heard his vows,
Ere all those vows were broke, and perjur'd Phaon
Parted for Sicily; where now he reigns
Here like ourselves, my Son, all-absolute,
Conquering each heart he lists, nor needs thy shafts
To aid his victories.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "conque" and "heart" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Text from The Works of William Mason 4 vols. (London: Printed for T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1811). <Link to Google Books>
See also Poems by William Mason, M.A., (York: Printed by W. Blanchard, 1797). <Link to Vol. III in Google Books>
See also Poems by William Mason, M.A., (York: Printed by W. Blanchard, 1797). <Link to Vol. III in Google Books>
Date of Entry
02/10/2005
