Classic and Contemporary Poetry
JUPITER AND DANAEL OR, HOW TO WIN A WOMAN, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE Poet's Biography First Line: Imperial jove, who, with wonderful art Last Line: Just open your purse, and come down with the dust. Subject(s): Courtship | ||||||||
IMPERIAL Jove, who, with wonderful art, Was one of those suitors that always prevail, Once made an assault on so flinty a heart That he feared for a while he was destined to fail. A beautiful maiden, Miss Danae by name, The Olympian lover endeavored to win; But she peeped from the casement whenever he came, Exclaiming, "You're handsome, but cannot come in!" With sweet adulation he tickled her ear; But still at her window she quietly sat, And said, though his speeches were pleasant to hear, She'd always been used to such homage as that! Then he spoke, in a fervid and rapturous strain, Of a bosom consuming with burning desire; But his eloquent pleading was wholly in vain, -- She thought it imprudent to meddle with fire! Then he begged her in mercy to pity his case, And spoke of his dreadfully painful condition; But the lady replied, with a sorrowful face, She was only a maiden, and not a physician! In vain with these cunning conventional snares, To win her the gallant Lothario strove; In spite of his smiles, and his tears, and his prayers, She could n't, she would n't, be courted by Jove! At last he contrived, -- so the story is told, -- By some means or other, one evening, to pour Plump into her apron a shower of gold, Which opened her heart, -- and unbolted her door! MORAL. Hence suitors may learn in matters of love 'T is idle in manners or merit to trust; The only sure way is to imitate Jove, -- Just open your purse, and come down with the dust. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AS YOU WALK OUT ONE MORNING by GLYN MAXWELL TALE OF THE MAYOR'S SON by GLYN MAXWELL THE RIVALS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON MARJORIE'S WOOING by EMMA LAZARUS THE FORTUNATE SPILL by MARILYN NELSON REQUEST TO LEDA by DYLAN THOMAS DEATH AND CUPID; AN ALLEGORY by JOHN GODFREY SAXE |
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