Captain
CUPID
.
By
the
Same
.
ERST
,
in
Cythera's
sacred
shade
,
When
Venus
clasp'd
the
god
of
war
,
The
laughing
loves
around
them
play'd
,
One
bore
the
shield
,
and
one
the
spear
.
The
little
warriors
Cupid
led
,
The
shining
baldric
grac'd
his
breast
,
The
mighty
helmet
o'er
his
head
Nodded
its
formidable
crest
.
Hence
oft'
,
to
win
some
stubborn
maid
,
Still
does
the
wanton
God
assume
The
martial
air
,
the
gay
cockade
,
The
sword
,
the
shoulder-knot
and
plume
.
Phyllis
had
long
his
power
defy'd
,
Resolv'd
her
conquests
to
maintain
;
His
fruitless
art
each
poet
try'd
:
Each
shepherd
tun'd
his
pipe
in
vain
.
'Till
Cupid
came
,
a
captain
bold
:
Of
trenches
and
of
palisadoes
He
talk'd
;
and
many
a
tale
he
told
Of
battles
,
and
of
ambuscadoes
.
How
oft'
his
godship
had
been
drunk
;
What
melting
maids
he
had
undone
;
How
oft'
by
night
had
storm'd
a
punk
,
Or
bravely
beat
a
saucy
dun
.
He
swore
,
drank
,
whor'd
,
sung
,
danc'd
with
spirit
,
And
o'er
each
pleasing
topic
ran
;
'Till
Phyllis
sigh'd
,
and
own'd
his
merit
,
The
Captain's
sure
a
charming
man
.
Ye
bards
,
on
verse
let
Phoebus
doat
,
Ye
shepherds
,
leave
your
pipes
to
Pan
,
Nor
verse
nor
pipe
will
Phyllis
note
.
The
Captain
is
the
charming
man
.