Classic Poem

In Taurus was the sun and flowery Spring
Had reared her lovely, many blossomed head
When I 'neath olives on a grassy bed
Rejoiced at sweetest love remembering.

The perfumed flowers and freshness of the day,
The birds in chorus and the gentle breeze
Caressed my mind into a dreaming ease.
Oh, that such dreams should ever pass away!

I saw where Ganymede with Helen went
On summer grass beneath a lovely pine:
Serene their faces' so majestic line
That shamed the rose and lily in them blent.

Then seemed they both to sit upon the ground
Which to their lovely looks did often smile.
Such beauty gods alone have to beguile,
Yet both did wonder at the grace they found.

There they discussed a host of things, I ween,
And then about their beauties did debate;
They seemed two gods competing in their state,
The boy comparing him unto the queen.

She, longing for a man and fit for bed,
Could feel the goading pangs of cruel sex;
The comeliness of Ganymede did vex
And inner fires did glow an outward red.

Though Shame will turn her from love's place of rest,
The woman had no more a virgin's ice,
And, since she was not asked, she dared entice,
Off'ring the boy her lap, her mouth, her breast.

Though both were stretched upon the grass so free
And union been blessed between the two,
Young Ganymede, not knowing what to do,
Pressed close to her that he might passive be.

She senses something's wrong and in amaze
She pushes him aside, she weeps, she rails,
She curses nature and the gods bewails
That so unnatural had so fair a gaze.

The argument develops to a fight:
She praises womankind, the male he,
Till Nature and Reason are called to be
The judges and determiners of right.

Each therefore mounts a steed without delay
And spurs him on until three dawns are run
When they are greeted by the rising sun
At Nature's palace whence they made their way.

Dame Nature in the house of highest Jove,
While ruminating futures she can see,
In surest scales created things to be
And thread into uncounted figures wove.

Near stood companion Reason 'neath whose eyes
She causes growth and sows the future's seeds;
A mixture of the sexes there she kneads
Whence manifold fertilities arise.

Providence also, lofty to the view,
Whom God created from his purest thought,
Stood there beside, her vision missing naught;
Both past and present are in her purlieu.

" Hither," she says, " two lovely humans pace,
Of greatest beauty and astounding fair,
I wonder much that Earth could breed the pair
For Heaven's self would joy in such a race.

I hear the accusations of each one
But wish I didn't know their argument.
However, call the gods to parliament."
And as she ordered, so they saw it done.

The tale arouses Jove and all his race.
Some with Ganymede, some with Helen side.
The seats are set, the palace opened wide
And heav'nly halls are filled with god-like grace.

As the two humans summoned to appear
Tie their horses and to the threshold go
(Their golden accoutrements all a-glow)
At once they're sighted as the gate they near.

The unexpected youth now ent'ring there
Shone like the Morning Star before the dawn.
All that he glimpsed his eyes appeared to scorn:
Mortality's disdained by one so fair.

His locks were like a royal golden train
In purest saffron by the Chinese dyed,
While those which round his lovely forehead tried
To touch his brows curled coyly back again.

Those brows were parted by a comely space,
His wide eyes sparkled with a lovely light,
His mouth demanded kisses as of right,
His whole expression radiated grace.

The lightly blushing Helen followed there —
Yet unknown to mankind and shy and grave
As virgin Cynthia rising from the wave —
Nor comes she second with a face so fair.

Part of her locks loose hanging did appear
While part were bound and beautifully spread
Back from her hairline to her coiffured head
Which was held high as one unused to fear.

Proud was her brow yet playful was her glance
And beautifully delicate her nose;
Her kiss had Venus scented with a rose,
Her god-smoothed chin did beauty more enhance.

And lest her hair her beauty should disguise
Spare locks were tamed and round her ears were drawn,
And then her face showed lovely as the dawn
Which pink and white each morning does arise.

And now the gods were squirming all around:
Apollo's hot while Mars his sighs were spent
As if he held Dame Venus closely pent.
He did not try to hide the beastly sound.

And shameless Jove calls Ganymede the fair
While for his queen had Nature set a place;
The presence of the boy she called disgrace
And would not name him either son or heir. HELEN:

" Alas," says Helen, " much my pity runs
Since womankind cold-heartedly you spurn
And so the natural order overturn.
Why had you father if you'll have no sons?" GANYMEDE:

" Sons from old men will please a young man's zest
For he has lust to pleasure youthful May.
The gods' invention is the game we play
Which still is followed by the bright and best." HELEN:

" But merely ornamental is your face
And hastes to perish since you have no wife.
If you should marry and beget new life
A son's fresh form his father's would replace." GANYMEDE:

" I have no wish my features to repair;
I pleasure men with me uniquely made.
I hope with time your beauties all will fade
For I am less beloved since you are fair." HELEN:

" How lovely are the different sexes' loves
When men and women mutually entwine;
By natural attraction they combine
As do the beasts, the boars and e'en the doves." GANYMEDE:

" But mankind should not rut like pigs and birds
For humans have the power of thought divine,
And only peasants — those we may call swine —
Are born as men to loose to female herds." HELEN:

" No love has ever touched a boyish heart,
That's man and woman's coupled in one bed;
For proper union's achieved, it's said,
When both the sexes are distinct, apart." GANYMEDE:

" But things are sundered by disparity;
More elegant are men joined each to each.
Perhaps you're ignorant of rules of speech:
The adjective and noun must both agree." HELEN:

" When first the great Creator formed the male
He tried to make the woman yet more fair
So drawn to her the man might have an heir
And men's regard for men would not prevail." GANYMEDE:

" The love of women I might have agreed
Was good if manners went with looks by right,
But married women sully love's delight,
While those unmarried serve the public need." HELEN:

" Then let men blush and Nature grieve as well;
That men should join was never yet her mind.
Men yoked by Venus fruitless coupling find.
This boy, despite his sex, his charms will sell." GANYMEDE:

" Such worthy love each worthy man employs,
The highly placed such passion highly rate,
And men who moral matters arbitrate
Are not averse to loving soft-thighed boys." HELEN:

" I don't count those whom frenzied lusts deprave.
No reasons can for your defence conspire.
This youngster here has never felt desire
And so his wickedness is yet more grave." GANYMEDE:

" The smell of profit is a pleasing one
Whose sure appeal many men acclaim;
To gather riches most go on the game,
For men who want a boy will pay for fun." HELEN:

" Even if this were not a sin for youth,
For older men there's simply no excuse;
I have to laugh at their absurd abuse.
It is a sin in dotage, that's the truth." GANYMEDE:

" Your accusations of the old are just.
It seems disgraceful when their hairs are grey
To join the pleasures of the young and gay.
But they should not discourage boyish lust." HELEN:

" But tell me, lad, when youthful good looks fade,
With wrinkled face and beard that's more than fluff,
With chest turned bushy and your arsehole tough,
Will you be still the prize whence dreams are made?" GANYMEDE:

" When by the years your virgin charms are marred,
Your lips have thickened and your skin is dry,
When crowsfoot's drooping round your misty eye,
Won't your most ardent lover be half-hard?" HELEN:

" You try to keep as hairless as a sylph
And imitate a woman with your ass;
Defying nature you become a lass
And war on her with such unnatural filth." GANYMEDE:

" I'd like to be both soft and smooth, 'tis true,
But God forbid I had a woman's fane.
My softness puts off girls whom I disdain.
What difference between a mule and you?" HELEN:

" Oh, were I not restrained by modesty
I'd not be mincing words with you, my son;
But I'll not be heard swearing, it's not done,
For foul words are a slight to modesty." GANYMEDE:

" But we came here to speak of vulgar acts,
This is no place to show the modest mind,
For piety and shame were left behind
And I shan't spare nor maiden's airs nor facts." HELEN:

" I don't know where to turn, for I must prate
With equal viciousness or loser be,
But if I strive for an equality
My virtue with a prostitute's will rate." GANYMEDE:

" Go try your lies on someone more naive!
Flat on your back you've propositioned men.
Where was such a dove-like innocence then?
This sudden change am I meant to believe?" HELEN:

" But when a man a boy in congress meets
(The sort of man who rashly gelds his males)
The horrid sin o'er both of them prevails
And, shame to say, the morning shows stained sheets." GANYMEDE:

" The man into whose bed a strumpet slinks
And whose delight is filthy woman's quim,
When tarts recumbent open up to him
Learns all too well how their bilge water stinks." HELEN:

" Tarts smell like tarts and they are bound to cloy,
But girls excel the balsam's fragrant bliss;
There's honey on their lips and in their kiss,
And blest the man who virgins can enjoy." GANYMEDE:

" When Jupiter divides him in his bed
And turns to Juno first then to his boy,
He swiftly leaves his wife for proper joy,
Returns to quarrel, then takes me instead." HELEN:

" Your wretched Venus' fruitless, sterile art
Causes the love of women to decay;
When man mounts man in this disgraceful way
A monstrous Venus fakes the woman's part." GANYMEDE:

" It is not monstrous monsters to avoid:
The sticky bush, the darkly yawning cave,
The hole whose stink all others will outbrave;
Nor pole nor oar will e'er come near that void." HELEN:

" Be quiet, be quiet, such words are a disgrace!
Just talk more decently, you filthy pup!
If for a modest girl you won't shut up,
At least to Nature and the gods give place." GANYMEDE:

" If such things in cloaks of words you'd cover,
By such a tricked out truth you may beguile,
But I'll not help in gilding what is vile:
Words and actions both must suit each other." HELEN:

" Then I'll put by the cloak of shame and fear
Since now I am obliged to speak so plain:
When impure coupling you entertain
Between your thighs you lose the precious tear.

There's the unutterable disgrace:
My words are nasty but your deeds are base."
The youth hears the unmentionable crime,
A stupor stops his speech and blushes rise
And furtive tears steal warmly from his eyes.
Lacking defence, he does not speak this time.

Now in his silence Reason from her throne
Speaks prudently with fitting words though few:
" Here needs no judge, the matter's plain to view.
I say: " Enough. The boy is overthrown. " "

He says: " I don't seek to refute my blame,
I recognize my error and what's right."
" While I," Apollo says, " have seen the light."
Jupiter declares: " For Juno I'm aflame."

On ancient heresies the gods thus frown,
Virgins rejoice and Juno offers prayers,
While Reason celebrates with Nature's heirs,
And public honours do the maiden crown.

Young Ganymede now asks if she will wed:
All the attendant gods approve of this
Since blessed union promises bliss,
While joy resounding woke me on my bed.

At God's desire this vision came to me;
Let Sodomites blush and Gomorrhans weep,
While all who sin thus show repentance deep.
And if ever I should sin so, Lord, have mercy!