Poem by Mary Robinson

Cupid Sleeping

[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!

1. Male Fashions for 1799
2. Sonnet 40. On the Low Margin
3. Sonnet 28. Weak Is the Sophistry
4. Sonnet 38. Oh Sigh
5. Stanzas Written under an Oak in Windsor Forest

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