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Cupid Turned Stroller. - From Anacreon

By Matthew Prior

Topics: classic

At dead of night, when stars appear, And strong Bootes turns the Bear, When mortals sleep their cares away, Fatigued with labours of the day, Cupid was knocking at my gate; Who's there, says I? who knocks so late, Disturbs my dreams, and breaks my rest? O fear not me, a harmless guest, He said; but open, open pray; A foolish child, I've lost my way, And wander here this moonlight night, All wet and cold, and wanting light. With due regard his voice I heard, Then rose, a ready lamp prepared, And saw a naked boy below, With wings, a quiver, and a bow: In haste I ran, unlock'd my gate, Secure and thoughtless of my fate; I set the child an easy chair Against the fire, and dried his hair; Brought friendly cups of cheerful wine, And warm'd his little hands with mine. All this did I with kind intent; Said, dearest Friend, this bow ye see, This pretty bow, belongs to me: Observe, I pray, if all be right, I fear the rain has spoil'd it quite: He drew it then, and straight I found Within my breast a secret wound. 'Tis done, the rogue no longer staid, But leapt away, and laughing said, Kind host adieu, we now must part, Safe is my bow, but sick thy heart.

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"At dead of night, when stars appear,..."

This evocative piece by Matthew Prior, titled "Cupid Turned Stroller. - From Anacreon", represents a masterful exploration of classic. The lines capture a profound emotional resonance... ### Why We Love This Line At Linespedia, we believe that poetry is the ultimate sanctuary for the soul...

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Author:Matthew Prior

"At dead of night, when stars appear,..." by Matthew Prior

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"The Text is taken from Percy's Reliques (1765), vol. i. p. 71, 'given from two MS. copies, transmitted from Scotland.' Herd had a very similar bal"

Matthew Prior

About Matthew Prior

Matthew Prior (1664–1721) was an English poet and diplomat. His poem "Alma: or, The Progress of the Mind" and his epitaph "Nobles and heralds, by your leave" are witty Augustan verse.

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