Sonnet XIII. Inamoured Jove, commanding, did entreat

Giles Fletcher (1586?–1623)

INAMOURED JOVE, commanding, did entreat

CUPID to wound my Love: which he denied,

And swore he could not, for she wanted heat;

And would not love, as he full oft had tried.

JOVE, in a rage, impatient this to hear,

Replied with threats, “I’ll make you to obey!”

Whereat the boy did fly away for fear

To LICIA’s eyes, where safe entrenched he lay.

Then JOVE, he scorned; and dared him to his face:

For now more safe than in the heavens he dwelled;

Nor could JOVE’s wrath do wrong to such a place,

Where Grace and Honour have their kingdom held.

Thus, in the pride and beauty of her eyes,

The silly boy, the greatest god defies.