XVI.

CUPID AND CAMPASPE.

This elegant little sonnet is found in the third act of an old play intitled _Alexander and Campaspe_, written by John Lilye, a celebrated writer in the time of queen Elizabeth. That play was first printed in 1591; but this copy is given from a later edition.

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[These pretty epigrammatic verses occur in act iii. sc. 5. of Lilly's play as a song by Apelles. The first edition of _Campaspe_ was printed in 1584, and that of 1591, mentioned above, is the second edition. This song, however, was omitted in all the editions printed before that of E. Blount (_Six Court Comedies, 1632._)]

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Cupid and my Campaspe playd At cardes for kisses; Cupid payd: He stakes his quiver, bow and arrows, His mothers doves, and teame of sparrows; Loses them too; then down he throws 5 The coral of his lippe, the rose Growing on's cheek (but none knows how) With these, the crystal of his browe, And then the dimple of his chinne; All these did my Campaspe winne. 10

At last he set her both his eyes, She won, and Cupid blind did rise. O Love! has she done this to thee? What shall, alas! become of mee?