Classic Poem

In great distress fair Cypris cried:
" If any hath seen mine Eros straying
Upon the highway wandering wide,
And me he tells, for the betraying
The informer shall rewarded be
With one of Cypris' choicest kisses;
His who the truant brings to me
Not a mere kiss but more than this is.

" Now ken the boy's fame's everywhere,
Amid a crowd you'd surely know him,
In colour he's indeed not fair
But like to fire — Ah! that would shew him.
His eyes are keen and fiery red,
His wicked, smooth tongue often screening
(Though seeming fair his words are said)
With subtle lies his real meaning.

" His voice as honey is, but if
He is provoked there's no believing
A word he saith — when in a tiff
He's always ruthless and deceiving;
The crafty child but seldom tells
The truth; his victims he hies after;
And while his heart with anger swells,
He mocks their miseries with laughter.

" His tiny hands 'tis true they are
As slight as a patrician lady's;
Yet they, pardie, can shoot as far
As Acheron, or the King of Hades.
He's naked, but his mind is hid,
And winged as a bird he's flitting;
To girls, youths, women, men unbid
He comes, upon their vitals sitting.

" He hath a small bow whereupon
An arrow's placed — small but it carries
Unto the far refulgent sun,
And whither sent right there it tarries.
An arsenal above his back
Is bound — in other words a quiver
Of gold filled with sharp shafts that rack,
And even me make sometimes shiver.

" All things of his are cruel, and
Far most the tiniest of torches,
He bears it in his little hand,
And with it Sol himself he scorches.
But should you catch the little waif
O! bind him though he may entreat you;
Pity him not but hold him safe,
If he should weep, beware, he'll cheat you.

" Though he should smile his sweetest smile
For that just hale him on the faster;
If he to kiss you wish the while,
Take care! his kiss portends disaster:
His lips are poison — should he say
" Here, take mine arms!" with accents gracious
Accept them not at all, I pray,
They're all fire-dipped — his gifts fallacious. "