Poems (Eliza Gabriella Lewis)/Love, Reason, and Truth

by Eliza Gabriella Lewis

LOVE, REASON, AND TRUTH.

"Where, oh where's the chain to fling,
One that will bind Cupid's wing?"
On the wings of the wandering breeze,
 Love joyed to float away,
Forgetting those who were ill at ease,
 While he was off at play.

Venus vowed that it should not last,—
 'Twas time that he went to school,
For his boyhood in ignorance had past,
 And he never had learn'd a rule.

She sprang in her chariot of blue,—
 (It was drawn by a turtle dove,)
Of a serious, sensible dame she knew,
 Who might teach a lesson to Love.

In tears Love came—he did not dare
 To refuse, but felt in a fret;
She wiped off his tears with her golden hair,
 And said, now be quiet my pet!

They soon alighted at Reason's gate,—
 Truth stood at the open door;
Come back! cried Cupid; 'tis not too late!
 Oh! Reason is such a bore.

And Truth hath a look, oh, mother dear,
 That I never yet could brook;
She chills me,—and Reason, too much I fear,
 I never can learn her book!

So fretted and fumed the petted child,
 As his mother turned to go;—
She said: my boy is a little wild,
 You had better hide his bow.

Alas, for Reason! alas, for Truth!
 Would we know what both befel?
He hood-winked Reason, that artful youth,
 And tumbled Truth in a well.