Who hearkens to the gods, the gods give ear.
_The Iliad, Bk. I_. HOMER. _Trans. of_ BRYANT.
Shakes his ambrosial curls, and gives the nod,
The stamp of fate, and sanction of the god.
_The Iliad, Bk. I_. HOMER. _Trans. of_ POPE.
High in the home of the summers, the seats of the happy immortals,
Shrouded in knee-deep blaze, unapproachable; there ever youthful
Hebè, Harmoniè, and the daughter of Jove, Aphroditè
Whirled in the white-linked dance, with the gold-crowned Hours and
Graces.
_Andromeda_. CH. KINGSLEY.
Or else flushed Ganymede, his rosy thigh
Half buried in the eagle's down.
Sole as a flying star, shot thro' the sky,
Above the pillared town.
_Palace of Art_. A. TENNYSON.
As sweet and musical
As bright Apollo's lute, strung with his hair;
And when Love speaks, the voice of all the gods
Makes heaven drowsy with the harmony.
_Love's Labor's Lost, Act iv. Sc. 2_. SHAKESPEARE.
Who knows not Circè,
The daughter of the Sun, whose charmèd cup
Whoever tasted lost his upright shape,
And downward fell into a grovelling swine?
_Comus_. MILTON.
Cupid is a knavish lad,
Thus to make poor females mad.
_Midsummer Night's Dream, Act iii. Sc. 3_. SHAKESPEARE.
This senior-junior, giant-dwarf, Dan Cupid:
Regent of love-rhymes, lord of folded arms,
The anointed sovereign of sighs and groans.
_Love's Labor's Lost, Act iii. Sc. 1_. SHAKESPEARE.
No wonder Cupid is a murderous boy:
A fiery archer making pain his joy.
His dam, while fond of Mars, is Vulcan's wife,
And thus 'twixt fire and sword divides her life.
_Greek Anthology_. MELEAGER.
The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us.
_King Lear, Act v. Sc. 3_. SHAKESPEARE.
Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods?
Draw near them then in being merciful;
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.
_Titus Andronicus, Act i. Sc. 1_. SHAKESPEARE.