Classic Poem

Even as the changeful moon across the sky
Moves on inconstant — now in brightness shining —
Now clouded — now towards the hills declining —
Now lifts its face, and now its horn on high:
So falsely midst the gods — so treach'rously
Doth love deceive, and laugh at mortal men —
Now opens Eden to our ravish'd eye,
Then flings us back to wretchedness again.
As he whom sunlight guides upon his way,
But little heeds the moon's inferior ray,
So do I turn me from love's feeble name;
Since heaven, that makes great gifts the lesser follow,
Took Cupid to replace him by Apollo —
Beckon'd off Venus — and led forward Fame.