Classic Poem

In th'aery fields by Maro's muse displai'd,
Where myrtle groves the frantick lovers shade,
The Heroines their Orgies celebrate,
And past occasions of their deaths relate;
As in a spreading Wood scarce pierc'd by day
They 'mongst thin reeds and drooping Poppy stray;
Lakes without fall, and Rivers without noyse,
Upon whose banks sad flowers, by names of boyes
And Kings once known, ith'cloudy twilight wither;
Selfelov'd Narcissus , Hyacinth , together
With Crocus golden hair'd, Adonis drest
In purple, Ajax with a sigh imprest;
These, who in tears their loves unhappy state
(Though dead) with constant grief commemorate,
Times past unto the Ladies represent;
Her birth of Thunder Seme'le doth lament,
And waves the seeming lightnings lazy fire
Deceiv'd in which she pregnant did expire.
Caenis who joy'd in change of Sex, deplor'd
Her frustrate gifts, back to her first restor'd.
Procris still dries her wounds, affecting thus
Though hurt, the bloody hand of Cephalus .
The maid faln from the Sestian Towers steep height
Brings the pale Tapers dim and smoaky light.
Masculine Sappho from dark Leucat's crown,
Wounded with Lesbian shafts, threats to leap down.
Harmonias gifts sad Eriphyle doth shun,
No less unhappy in her spouse then Son.
All the Minoian tales of aery Creet
Here as in several pictures waving meet.
A white Bulls steps Pasiphae doth pursue.
Scorn'd Ariadne bears her winded clew.
Her cast by tablets Phaedra turns to see.
A rope this holds, a specious Cor'net shee.
Another is asham'd she ere did bow
Beneath the Cavernes oth' Dedalian Cow.
Snatch'd from her living and dead spouse, two nights
Laodamia wailes, mock'd with delights.
On th'other side with naked swords severe
Thysbe , and Canace , and Eliza were:
She husbands, Sires this, that her guest's sword bore.
And the horn'd Moon her self roves (as before
Pleas'd with Endimions slumbers, up and down
'Mongst Latmian rocks) with Torch, and starry crown.
A hundred more who their old loves review,
With sad, yet sweet complaints, their pains renew.
In midst of whom, by the black shade benighted,
With whizzing wings Love unawares alighted;
All knew the Boy; and recollecting, thought him
Common offendour; though damp clouds about him
Obscure his belt, with golden buckles bright,
His Quiver, and his radiant Torches light,
Yet do they know him; and begin to show
Vain rage upon the lonely wandering Foe;
Whom as slow flight in the thick night he takes
Crowding together they oppresse; he quakes,
And vainly striving to escape, along
They drew him in the midst of all the throng.
The most known Myrtle ith' sad Groves elected;
For pain'd Gods hated; Proserpine neglected
There long before Adonis crucified
For loving Venus ; Love his hands being tied
Behinde him, his feet bound, on this high tree
Suspended with excessive cruelty
They torture; who to sentence must submit
Unjudg'd and guiltless; All themselves acquit,
Glad their own faults on others to transfer:
Upbraiding, All their instruments prepare
Of death: these armes, this vengeance sweet esteem,
To punish by that means which murdered them.
One brings a rope; she an illusive sword;
Another ragged cliffes, a hollow ford,
Dread of mad floods, Seas where no waves appear.
Flames others shake, threatning his trembling fear,
With hizzing firelesse Torches; Myrrha parts
Her tender womb with lucid tears, and darts
The gummy Jewels of her weeping tree.
Others lesse cruel will that all might be
Only in sport, to raise by some sharp thorn
That tender blood, whereof the Rose was born,
Or neer him hold the Torches sportive flame.
When Venus , his blest Mother, in the same
Crime's faulty, through the crowd doth safely press,
Not her enclos'd sons suffrings to redress,
But his fear doubling, furies doth inflame
With bitter stings, transferring her own shame
Upon her son; because with Mars surpriz'd
By the blinde nets her Husband had devis'd;
Because the Hellespontiack power they slight;
Eryx unkind, half Man Hermaphrodite;
Words not suffice, but with a wreath of Roses
She whips the crying Boy, whom fear disposes
For worse; from his chaff'd limbs a purple dew
With many stripes the twisted Roses drew,
From which a tincture they receiv'd more bright.
The sharp threats fall; revenge to Venus might
Transmit the guilt, should it the crime exceed;
The Heroines themselves thus for him plead;
Willing, their funerals and hapless state
Rather to attribute to cruel Fate.
The pious Mother gives them thanks; they quit
Their griefs, and freely the Boys faults remit.
Nocturnal fancies in such shapes exprest,
Long with vain fear disturb'd my tim'rous rest:
Till dark sleep chac'd, thence suff'ring Cupid flies,
Through th'Ivory gate escaping to the skies.