WHEN the peerless Aphrodite First appeared among her kin, What a flutter of excitement All the goddesses were in! How the gods, in deep amazement, Bowed before the Queen of Beauty, And in loyal adoration Proffered each his humble duty! Phoebus, first, to greet her coming, Met her with a grand oration; Mars, who ne'er before had trembled, Showed the plainest trepidation! Hermes fairly lost his cunning, Gazing at the new Elysian; Plutus quite forgot his money In the rapture of his vision! Even Jove was deeply smitten (So the Grecian poets tell us), And, as might have been expected, Juno was extremely jealous! Staid Minerva thought her silly; Chaste Diana called her vain; But not one of all the ladies Dared to say that she was "plain"! Surely such a throng of lovers Never mortal yet could boast; Everywhere throughout Olympus "Charming Venus!" was the toast! Even Vulcan, lame and ugly, Paid the dame his awkward court; But the goddess, in derision, Turned his passion into sport; Laughed aloud at all his pleading, Bade him wash his visage sooty, And go wooing with the Harpies, What had he to do with Beauty? Well -- how fared it with the goddess? Sure, the haughty queen of love, Choosing one to suit her fancy, Married Phoebus, Mars, or Jove? No! -- at last -- as often happens To coquettes of lower station -- Venus found herself neglected, With a damaged reputation; And esteeming any husband More desirable than none, She was glad to marry Vulcan As the best that could be done! L'ENVOI. Hence you learn the real reason, Which your wonder oft arouses, Why so many handsome women Have such very ugly spouses! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE HOUSE OF LIFE: 31. HER GIFTS by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: OCTOBER by EDMUND SPENSER LE MARAIS DU CYNGE by JOHN GREENLEAF WHITTIER THE PHOENIX REBORN FROM ITS ASHES by LOUIS ARAGON A NEW PILGRIMAGE: 19 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT HINC LACHRIMAE; OR THE AUTHOR TO AURORA: 27 by WILLIAM BOSWORTH |