THE Siren Venus nouric'd in her lap Fair Adon, swearing whiles he was a youth He might be wanton: note his after-hap, The guerdon that such lawless lust ensu'th; So long he follow'd flattering Venus' lore, Till, seely lad, he perish'd by a boar. Mars in his youth did court this lusty dame, He won her love; what might his fancy let? He was but young: at last, unto his shame, Vulcan entrapp'd them slyly in a net, And call'd the gods to witness as a truth, A lecher's fault was not excus'd by youth. If crookèd age accounteth youth his spring, The spring, the fairest season of the year, Enrich'd with flowers, and sweets, and many a thing, That fair and gorgeous to the eyes appear; It fits that youth, the spring of man, should be 'Rich'd with such flowers as virtue yieldeth thee. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BY THE POTOMAC by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE BAY FIGHT by HENRY HOWARD BROWNELL LINES INSCRIBED UPON A CUP FORMED FROM A SKULL by GEORGE GORDON BYRON CORIDON'S SONG (IN ISAAK WALTON'S 'COMPLEAT ANGLER') by JOHN CHALKHILL W'EN I GITS HOME by PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR |