T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Pallas and Venus
By Matthew Prior (1664–1721)An Epigram THE TROJAN swain had judg’d the great dispute, | |
| And beauty’s power obtain’d the golden fruit; | |
| When Venus, loose in all her naked charms, | |
| Met Jove’s great daughter clad in shining arms. | |
| The wanton goddess view’d the warlike maid | 5 |
| From head to foot, and tauntingly she said: | |
| Yield, sister; rival, yield: naked, you see, | |
| I vanquish: guess how potent I should be, | |
| If to the field I came in armour drest; | |
| Dreadful, like thine, my shield, and terrible my crest! | 10 |
| The warrior goddess with disdain replied: | |
| Thy folly, child, is equal to thy pride: | |
| Let a brave enemy for once advise, | |
| And Venus (if ’tis possible) be wise. | |
| Thou to be strong must put off every dress; | 15 |
| Thy only armour is thy nakedness: | |
| And more than once, (or thou art much belied) | |
| By Mars himself that armour has been tried. | |