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Show ORIGIN OF SOCIETY. CANTO II• 60 _,, Ah me! celestial Guide, thy words impart. Ills undeserved, that rend the nascent heart! O, Goddess, say, if brighter scenes improve Air-breathing tribes, and births of sexual love?''The smiling Fair obeys the inquiring Muse, And in sweet tones her grateful task pursues. 220 " Now on broad pinions from the realms above Descending CuPID seeks the Cy1Jrian grove; To his wide arms enamour'd PsYCHE springs, A.nd clasps her lover with aurelian ·wings. A purple sash across HIs shoulder bends, And fringed with gold the quiver'd shafts suspends; The bending bow obeys the silken string, And, as he steps, the silver arrows ring~ Enamoured Psyche, 1. 223. A butterfly was the ancient emblem of the soul after death as rising from the tomb of its former state, and becoming a winged inhabitant of air from an insect creeping upon earth. At length the wings only were given to a beautiful nymph under the name of Psyche, which is the greek wonl for the soul, and also beca!De afterwards to signify a butterfly probably from the popularity of this allegory. Many allegorical designs of Cupirl or Love warming a butterfly or the Soul with his torch may be seen in Spence's Polymetis, and a beautiful one of their marriage in Bryant's Mythology; from which this description is in part taken. CANTO II. REPRODUCTION OF LIFE. 61 Thin folds of gauze with dim transparence flow O'er HER fair forehead, and her neck of snow· ' 230 The winding woof her graceful limbs surrounds ' Swel1s in the breeze, and sweeps the velvet grounds; As hand in hand along the flowery meads His blushing bride the quiver'd hero leads; Charm' cl round their heads pursuing Zephyrs throng, And scatter roses, as they move along; Bright beams of Spring in soft effusion play, And halcyon Hours invite them on their way. " Delighted HYMEN hears their whisper' d vows, And binds his chaplets round their polish' d brows, 240 Guides to his altar, ties the flowery bands, And as they kneel, unites their willing hands. ' Behold, he cries, Earth! Ocean! Air above, 'And hail the DEITIES OF SEXUAL LovE1 ' All forms of Life shall this fond Pair delight, ' And sex to sex the willing world unite |