Love

Venus Mistaken

by Matthew Prior 1664–1721

From Poems on Several Occasions

LoveMythology & Folklore

WHEN Cloe's picture was to Venus shown,
Surpris'd, the goddess took it for her own.
And what, said she, does this bold painter mean ?
When was I bathing thus, and naked seen ?
Pleas'd Cupid heard, and check'd his mother's pride:
And who's blind now, mamma ? the urchin cried.
'Tis Cloe's eye, and cheek, and lip, and breast ;
Friend Howard's genius fancied all the rest.

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A sequel epigram in which Venus is shown Cloe's picture and mistakes it for herself.

MLA

Prior, Matthew. “Venus Mistaken.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/prior/7/.

Chicago

Prior, Matthew. “Venus Mistaken.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/prior/7/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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