Sonnet 36. Thou purblind Boy! since thou hast been so slack

Michael Drayton (1563–1631)

[First printed in 1619.]

CUPID conjured

THOU purblind Boy! since thou hast been so slack

To wound her heart, whose eyes have wounded me;

And suffered her to glory in my wrack:

Thus to my aid, I lastly conjure thee!

By hellish Styx (by which the Thunderer swears)!

By thy fair Mother’s unavoided power!

By HECATE’s names! by PROSERPINE’s sad tears,

When she was rapt to the infernal bower!

By thine own lovèd PSYCHE’s! by the fires

Spent on thine altars, flaming up to heaven!

By all true lovers’ sighs, vows, and desires!

By all the wounds that ever thou hast given!

I conjure thee, by all that I have named,

To make her love! or, CUPID, be thou damned!