When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.

Cupid is a casuist, a mystic, and a cabalist,--
Can your lurking thought surprise,
And interpret your read more

Cupid is a casuist, a mystic, and a cabalist,--
Can your lurking thought surprise,
And interpret your device,
. . . .
All things wait for and divine him,--
How shall I dare to malign him?

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and
cried out, saying, Great is Diana of read more

And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and
cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

Say, Bacchus, why so placid? What can there be
In commune held by Pallas and by thee?
read more

Say, Bacchus, why so placid? What can there be
In commune held by Pallas and by thee?
Her pleasure is in darts and battles; thine
In joyous feasts and draughts of rosy wine.

Nature's self's thy Ganymede.

Nature's self's thy Ganymede.

The Ethiop gods have Ethiop lips,
Bronze cheeks, and woolly hair;
The Grecian gods are like the read more

The Ethiop gods have Ethiop lips,
Bronze cheeks, and woolly hair;
The Grecian gods are like the Greeks,
As keen-eyed, cold and fair.

The Graces, three erewhile, are three no more;
A fourth is come with perfume sprinkled o'er.
'Tis read more

The Graces, three erewhile, are three no more;
A fourth is come with perfume sprinkled o'er.
'Tis Berenice blest and fair; were she
Away the Graces would no Graces be.

Who hearkens to the gods, the gods give ear.

Who hearkens to the gods, the gods give ear.

With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
read more

With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.