The Forty-Fifth Ode of Anacreon
No MS; 1714 Steele, 48-9*.
When Mars the Lemnian Darts survey'd,
Which Vulcan forg'd for Cupid's Bow;
What foolish toys are these, he said,
How brittle and how slight they show?Fit Play-things for a Child! when strait
The little God did one prepare;
Here try, said he, if this one wants Weight;
And gave it to the God of War.He took the Dart, its Weight he try'd,
While Venus smil'd to see him caught;
Here take it back again, he cry'd,
'Tis much more weighty than I thought.The little Archer, wanton grown
To find the God of War shew Fear,
Keep it, said he, and henceforth own
My Dart wounds deeper than your Spear.
1696 Dacier, "Les Poesies d'Anacreon and de Sapho" 236-41.
This is by Finch for the reasons given in The 30th Ode of Anacreon, No. 165. This poem is more risque: vide the line where Cupid's "dart" is found "much more weighty" than Mars' "Spear." They're all sexy.
Page Last Updated 8 January 2003