AMPHITRYON, OR THE TWO SOSIAS: EPILOGUE by JOHN DRYDEN

I'm thinking (and it almost makes me mad)
How sweet a time those Heathen Ladies had.
Idolatry was ev'n their Gods' own trade:
They Worshipt the fine Creatures they had made.
@3Cupid@1 was chief of all the Deities;
And Love was all the fashion, in the Skies.
When the sweet Nymph held up the Lilly hand,
Jove, was her humble Servant, at Command.
The Treasury of Heav'n was ne're so bare,
But still there was a Pension for the Fair.
In all his Reign, Adultry was no Sin;
For @3Jove@1 the good Example did begin.
Mark too, when he usurp'd the Husband's name,
How civilly he sav'd the Ladies fame.
The secret Joys of Love he wisely hid;
But you, Sirs, boast of more than e'er you did.
You teize your Cuckolds; to their face torment 'em:
But @3Jove@1 gave his, new Honours to content 'em,
And, in the kind Remembrance of the Fair,
On each exalted Son, bestowed a Star.
For these good deeds, as by the date appears,
His Godship flourish'd full Two thousand Years.
At last, when Heand all his Priests grew old,
The Ladies grew in their devotion cold;
And that false Worship would no longer hold.
Severity of Life did next begin;
(And always does, when we no more can Sin.)
That Doctrine, too, so hard, in Practice, lyes,
That the next Age may see another rise.
Then, Pagan Gods may, once again, succeed;
And @3Jove,@1 or @3Mars,@1 be ready, at our need,
To get young Godlings; and, so, mend our breed.

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