THUS to the Muses spoke the Cyprian dame; 'Adorn my altars, and revere my name. My son shall else assume his potent darts, Twang goes the bow, my girls; have at your hearts!' The Muses answered, 'Venus, we deride The vagrant's malice, and his mother's pride; Send him to nymphs who sleep on Ida's shade, To the loose dance, and wanton masquerade; Our thoughts are settled, and intent our look, On the instructive verse, and moral book; On female idleness his power relies; But, when he finds us studying hard, he flies.' | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SIXTEEN DEAD MEN by WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS SISTER LOU by STERLING ALLEN BROWN LACHIN Y GAIR by GEORGE GORDON BYRON EPIGRAM by DECIMUS MAGNUS AUSONIUS A NIGHT IN JUNE by ALFRED AUSTIN ETERNITY by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD IN THE STILLNESS O' THE NIGHT by WILLIAM BARNES |