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Venus was also surnamed Cytheraea, because she was the chief deity of
Cythera; Phillommeis, as the queen of laughter; Tellesigama, because she
presided over marriage; Verticordia, because she could turn the hearts of
women to cultivate chastity; Basilea, as the queen of love; Myrtea, from
the myrtle being sacred to her; Mechanitis, in allusion to the many
artifices practised in love; and also goddess of the sea, because born in
the bosom of the waters;
"Behold a nymph arise, divinely fair,
Whom to Cythera first the surges bear;
Hence is she borne, safe o'er the deeps profound,
To Cyprus, watered by the waves around:
And here she walks, endowed with every grace
To charm, the goddess blooming in her face;
Her looks demand respect, and where she goes
Beneath her tender feet the herbage blows;
And Aphrodite, from the foam, her name,
Among the race of gods and men the same;
And Cytheraea from Cythera came;
Whence, beauteous crown'd, she safely cross'd the sea,
And call'd, O Cyprus, Cypria from thee;
Nor less by Philomeda known on earth,
A name derived immediate from her birth:
Her first attendants to the immortal choir
Were Love, the oldest god, and fair Desire;
The virgin whisper, and the tempting smile,
The sweet allurements that can hearts beguile,
Soft blandishments which never fail to move,
Friendship, and all the fond deceits in love,
Constant her steps pursue, or will she go
Among the gods above, or men below."