Love’s Progress. Poem by Henry Baker

Love wander'd out, one Summer's Day,
'Till He, benighted, lost his Way:
Then whither knowing not to go,
Or where to lie, or what to do,
With bloated Cheeks, and blubber'd Eyes,
With Sighs, and Sobs, and piteous Cries,
Upon the dewy Grass He lay,
Expecting the Return of Day.

Some Shepherds watching on the Plain
Their sleeping Flocks, heard him complain;
Nor were his loud Laments in vain;
For to his Aid they quickly came,
And ask'd his Business, and his Name.
He told them, that his whole Employ
Was to smile, and kiss, and toy,
To hope, and fear, and wish, and sigh,
And with Excess of Pleasure die.
Cupid's my Name (adjoin'd the Boy)
Venus my Mother, I her Joy;
The Court's my Place of Residence,
I Yester--morning came from thence,
But cannot find my Way from hence.

The joyful Shepherds crowding round,
Raise weary Cupid from the Ground:
His Cheeks they kiss, and wipe his Eyes,
With Acclamations fill the Skies.
Advanc'd upon their Shoulders high
They bear the now--contented Boy:
To rural Musick dance along,
Each tunes his Reed, or sings a Song.

Rejoicing, all with gladsome Shouts
Conduct him to their humble Huts,
And spread the wholesome cleanly Board
With what their fruitful Plains afford.
Cream, Butter, Cheese, and such like Fare,
The luscious Grape, and juicy Pear,
And purple Mulberry was there;
With Damsons glossy from the Tree,
And Honey from the Virgin Bee.

Love was with this so pleas'd, he swore,
That He would never leave them more:
But fix his Empire on the Plain,
And only over Shepherds reign.

At Court the Loss of Love was known,
Almost so soon as He was gone:
Those who had own'd his gentle Sway,
And vow'd his Godhead to obey,
Sent Messengers to seek him out,
Through all the Cities round about;
But never search'd the Groves and Plains,
Or thought to find Him 'mong the Swains:
And so their Care was all in vain,
Their Labour only for their Pain.

Love thus to flow'ry Meadows gone,
Tyrannick Plutus seiz'd the Crown,
And fill'd his abdicated Throne:
Usurp'd his Pow'r, repeal'd the Laws
Whereby he gain'd such just Applause;
And, quite devoid of Fear, or Shame,
Assum'd his Titles, and his Name:
Set his own Idol in the Place
Where Cupid's sacred Statue was,
And with an arbitrary Sway
Compell'd his Subjects to obey.

Love, since that time maintains his Court,
And reigns among the poorer sort,
With Nymphs and humble Shepherds dwells,
And visits those in lowly Cells:
While Plutus lords it o'er the Great,
And with the Mighty rules in State,
Where Love is now so quite forgot,
Except his Name they know him not.