Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ALCIDA: VERSES WRITTEN UNDER A PICTURE OF VENUS, by ROBERT GREENE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ALCIDA: VERSES WRITTEN UNDER A PICTURE OF VENUS, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When nature forg'd the fair unhappy mould
Last Line: Lent gods and men a poison and a hell.
Subject(s): Goddesses & Gods; Love; Mythology; Mythology - Classical; Poetry & Poets; Trojan War; Venus (goddess)


WHEN Nature forg'd the fair unhappy mould,
Wherein proud beauty took her matchless shape,
She over-slipp'd her cunning and her skill,
And aim'd too fair, but drew beyond the mark;
For, thinking to have made a heavenly bliss,
For wanton gods to dally with in heaven,
And to have fram'd a precious gem for men,
To solace all their dumpish thoughts with glee,
She wrought a plague, a poison, and a hell:
For gods, for men, thus no way wrought she well.
Venus was fair, fair was the Queen of Love,
Fairer than Pallas, or the wife of Jove;
Yet did the giglot's beauty grieve the smith,
For that she brav'd the creeple with a horn.
Mars said, her beauty was the star of heaven,
Yet did her beauty stain him with disgrace.
Paris for fair gave her the golden ball,
And bought his and his father's ruin so.
Thus Nature making what should far excell,
Lent gods and men a poison and a hell.





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