Love

The Shepherd's Conceit of Prometheus

by Sir Edward Dyer 1543–1607

From England's Helicon (1600), ed. A. H. Bullen (1887)

Love

Prometheus, when first from heaven high
He brought down fire, ere then on earth unseen.
Fond of delight, ' a satyr, standing by.
Gave it a kiss, as it like sweet had been.

Feeling forthwith the other burning power,
Wood with the smart, with shouts and shriekings shrill,
He sought his ease in river, field, and bower.
But for the time his grief went with him still.

So silly I, with that unwonted sight.
In human shape an angel from above,
Feeding mine eyes, th' impression there did light,
That since I run and rest as pleaseth Love.

The difference is, the satyr's lips, my heart;
He for a while, I evermore have smart.

✦ ✦ ✦

Signed "S. E. D." in England's Helicon.

MLA

Dyer, Edward. “The Shepherd's Conceit of Prometheus.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dyer_e/5/.

Chicago

Dyer, Edward. “The Shepherd's Conceit of Prometheus.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dyer_e/5/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Sir Edward Dyer