Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke (c.1554-1628)

From Caelica

"Cupid, thou naughty boy..."

Cupid, thou naughty boy, when thou wert loathed,

Naked and blind, for vagabonding noted,

Thy nakedness I in my reason clothed,

Mine eyes I gave thee, so was I devoted.

Fie, wanton, fie! who would show children kindness?

No sooner he into mine eyes was gotten

But straight he clouds them with a seeing blindness,

Makes reason wish that reason were forgotten.

From thence to Myra's eyes the wanton strayeth,

Where while I charge him with ungrateful measure,

So with fair wonders he mine eyes betrayeth,

That my wounds and his wrongs become my pleasure;

Till for more spite to Myra's heart he flyeth,

Where living to the world, to me he dieth.

Fie, foolish earth, think you the heaven wants glory

Because your shadows do yourself benight?

All's dark unto the blind, let them be sorry;

But love still in herself finds her delight.

Fie, fond desire, think you that love wants glory

Because your shadows do yourself benight?

The hopes and fears of lust may make men sorry,

The heavens in themselves are ever bright.

Then earth, stand fast, the sky that you benight

Will turn again and so restore your glory;

Desire, be steady, hope is your delight,

An orb wherein no creature can be sorry,

Love being placed above these middle regions

Where every passion wars itself with legions.