Ode To Cupid On Valentine's Day

By Anonymous

COME thou rosy-dimpled boy,
Source of ev’ry heart-felt joy,
Leave the blissful bow’rs awhile,
Paphos and the Cyprian isle:
Visit Britain’s rocky shore,
Britons too thy pow’r adore.
Britons hardy, bold, and free,
Own thy laws, and yield to thee.
Source of ev’ry heart-felt joy,
Come thou rosy-dimpled boy.
Haste to Sylvia, haste away,
This is thine, and Hymen’s day;
Bid her thy soft bondage wear,
Bid her for Love’s rites prepare.
Let the nymphs with many a flow’r
Deck the sacred nuptial bow’r.
Thither lead the lovely fair,
And let Hymen too be there.
This is thine, and Hymen’s day,
Haste to Sylvia, haste away.
Only while we love we live,
Love alone can pleasure give;
Pomp and pow’r, and tinsel state,
Those false pageants of the great,
Crowns and scepters, envied things,
And the pride of Eastern kings,
Are but childish empty toys,
When compar’d to Love’s sweet joys,
Love alone can pleasure give,
Only while we love, we live.