| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | The Song of Venus | | By John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| | | FAIREST 1 isle, all isles excelling, | |
| Seat of pleasures and of love; | |
| Venus here will choose her dwelling, | |
| And forsake her Cyprian groves. | |
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| Cupid from his favourite nation | 5 |
| Care and envy will remove; | |
| Jealousy, that poisons passion, | |
| And despair, that dies for love. | |
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| Gentle murmurs, sweet complaining, | |
| Sighs that blow the fire of love; | 10 |
| Soft repulses, kind disdaining, | |
| Shall be all the pains you prove. | |
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| Every swain shall pay his duty, | |
| Grateful every nymph shall prove; | |
| And as these excel in beauty, | 15 |
| Those shall be renowned for love. | |
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