The Secular Masque
Enter JANUS
JANUS
Chronos, Chronos, mend thy pace,
An hundred times the rolling sun
Around the radiant belt has run
In his revolving race.
Behold, behold, the goal in sight,
Spread thy fans, and wing thy flight.
Enter CHRONOS, with a scythe in his hand, and a great globe on his back,
which he sets down at his entrance
CHRONOS
Weary, weary of my weight,
Let me, let me drop my freight,
And leave the world behind.
I could not bear
Another year
The load of human-kind.
Enter MOMUS Laughing
MOMUS
Ha! ha! ha! Ha! ha! ha! well hast thou done,
To lay down thy pack,
And lighten thy back.
The world was a fool, e'er since it begun,
And since neither Janus, nor Chronos, nor I,
Can hinder the crimes,
Or mend the bad times,
'Tis better to laugh than to cry.
Cho. of all
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
'Tis better to laugh than to cry
JANUS
Since Momus comes to laugh below,
Old Time begin the show,
That he may see, in every scene,
What changes in this age have been,
CHRONOS
Then Goddess of the silver bow begin.
Horns, or hunting-music within Enter DIANA
DIANA
With horns and with hounds I waken the day,
And hie to my woodland walks away;
I tuck up my robe, and am buskin'd soon,
And tie to my forehead a waxing moon.
I course the fleet stag, unkennel the fox,
And chase the wild goats o'er summits of rocks,
With shouting and hooting we pierce thro' the sky;
And Echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry.
Cho. of all
With shouting and hooting, we pierce through the sky,
And Echo turns hunter, and doubles the cry.
JANUS
Then our age was in its prime,
CHRONOS Chronos
Free from rage,
DIANA
--And free from crime.
MOMUS
A very merry, dancing, drinking,
Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.
Cho. of all
Then our age was in its prime,
Free from rage, and free from crime,
A very merry, dancing, drinking,
Laughing, quaffing, and unthinking time.
Dance of Diana's attendants
Enter MARS
MARS
Inspire the vocal brass, inspire;
The world is past its infant age:
Arms and honour,
Arms and honour,
Set the martial mind on fire,
And kindle manly rage.
Mars has look'd the sky to red;
And peace, the lazy good, is fled.
Plenty, peace, and pleasure fly;
The sprightly green
In woodland-walks, no more is seen;
The sprightly green, has drunk the Tyrian dye.
Cho. of all
Plenty, peace, |&|c.
MARS
Sound the trumpet, beat the drum,
Through all the world around;
Sound a reveille, sound, sound,
The warrior god is come.
Cho. of all
Sound the trumpet, |&|c.
MOMUS
Thy sword within the scabbard keep,
And let mankind agree;
Better the world were fast asleep,
Than kept awake by thee.
The fools are only thinner,
With all our cost and care;
But neither side a winner,
For things are as they were.
Cho. of all
The fools are only, |&|c.
Enter VENUS
VENUS
Calms appear, when storms are past;
Love will have his hour at last:
Nature is my kindly care;
Mars destroys, and I repair;
Take me, take me, while you may,
Venus comes not ev'ry day.
Cho. of all
Take her, take her, |&|c.
CHRONOS
The world was then so light,
I scarcely felt the weight;
Joy rul'd the day, and love the night.
But since the Queen of Pleasure left the ground,
I faint, I lag,
And feebly drag
The pond'rous Orb around.
All, all of a piece throughout;
MOMUS,
pointing {}} to Diana {}}
Thy chase had a beast in view;
to Mars
Thy wars brought nothing about;
to Venus
Thy lovers were all untrue.
JANUS
'Tis well an old age is out,
And time to begin a new.
Cho. of all
All, all of a piece throughout;
Thy chase had a beast in view;
Thy wars brought nothing about;
Thy lovers were all untrue.
And time to begin a new.
Dance of huntsmen, nymphs, warriors, and lovers.
poem by John Dryden
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Related quotes
Momus, God Of Laughter
Though with gods the world is cumbered,
Gods unnamed, and gods unnumbered,
Never god was known to be
Who had not his devotee.
So I dedicate to mine,
Here in verse, my temple-shrine.
‘Tis not Ares, - mighty Mars,
Who can give success in wars.
‘Tis not Morpheus, who doth keep
Guard above us while we sleep,
‘Tis not Venus, she whose duty
‘Tis to give us love and beauty;
Hail to these, and others, after
Momus, gleesome god of laughter.
Quirinus would guard my health,
Plutus would insure me wealth;
Mercury looks after trade,
Hera smiles on youth and maid.
All are kind, I own their worth,
After Momus, god of mirth.
Though Apollo, out of spite,
Hides away his face of light,
Though Minerva looks askance,
Deigning me no smiling glance,
Kings and queens may envy me
While I claim the god of glee.
Wisdom wearies, Love had wings –
Wealth makes burdens, Pleasure stings,
Glory proves a thorny crown –
So all gifts the gods throw down
Bring their pains and troubles after;
All save Momus, god of laughter.
He alone gives constant joy.
Hail to Momus, happy boy.
poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
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Licia Sonnets 51
When first the sun whom all my senses serve,
Began to shine upon this earthly round,
The heavens for her all graces did reserve,
That Pandor-like with all she might abound.
Apollo placed his brightness in her eyes,
His skill presaging and his music sweet.
Mars gave his force; all force she now defies;
Venus her smiles wherewith she Mars did meet;
Python a voice, Diana made her chaste,
Ceres gave plenty, Cupid lent his bow,
Thetis his feet, there Pallas wisdom placed.
With these she queen-like kept a world in awe.
Yet all these honors deeméd are but pelf,
For she is much more worthy of herself.
poem by Giles Fletcher The Elder
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Diana
The first time I saw you - was in a magazine
The next time was you was walkin' 'cross my television screen
I knew right there that I had to make you mine
The day that you married him - I nearly lost my mind
Chorus
Diana - What cha doin' with a guy like him
Diana - I'd die for you please let me in
Diana - Can't you see you drive me wild
Diana - I'll bet you're just a reckless child!
So you've got it made;
I've seen you promenade a time or two
He might have lots of dough;
But I know he ain't right for you
Well I've watched you smile n' shakin hands;
When you're doin' your social scene
But you wouldn't have to do that;
If you came and lived with me - oh yeah!
Chorus
Diana - I just can't get you off of my mind
Diana - Why don't ya leave it all behind?
Diana - She's the queen of all my dreams
Diana - Give me a chance - I'll set ya free!
Since I saw that picture of ya;
Nothin' matters - I just wanna love ya;
We can make it you and me;
So come on baby - come on baby
So here's how I see it...
You got one choice - you can get away;
Leave it up to me;
I'll bring the ladder - if you bring your limousine!
You really got a hold on me
Gimme a chance - I'll set you free!
song performed by by Bryan Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Mars Meets Venus
Thirty something, graduate, green eyes, perfect christian lady
Candlelit dinner, slim female figure, sense of humor, extrovert
Where are you where are you where are you
Lets starts as friends, seeking soulmate, long time relationship
choose life, soul sister, hippy chick, for soul brother blues man
Genuine american frog seeks princess
Someone is perfect for you, when mars meets venus
Do you want to bet your life, they're gotta be perfect for you too
Mars meets venus
New age man shake me up, wild girl, gay guy, romantic gentleman
Indian, long time relationship, beauty with brains
seeking something, say are you the one, are you the one, are you the one
Someone is perfect for you, when mars meets venus
Do you want to bet your life, they are gonna be perfect for you too
Someone is perfect for you when mars meets venus
Do you want to bet your life, you've gotta be perfect for them too
Heres lookin at you
song performed by by Duran Duran
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Momus
"Where's the need of singing now?"--
Smooth your brow,
Momus, and be reconciled.
For king Kronos is a child--
Child and father,
Or god rather,
And all gods are wild.
"Who reads Byron any more?"--
Shut the door
Momus, for I feel a draught;
Shut it quick, for some one laughed.--
What's become of
Browning? Some of
Wordsworth lumbers like a raft?
"What are poets to find here?"--
Have no fear:
When the stars are shining blue
There will yet be left a few
Themes availing--
And these failing,
Momus, there'll be you.
poem by Edwin Arlington Robinson
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Maghe
The Roman god Janus,
The Roman goddess Februa,
The Roman god of war (Mars) !
The Greek goddess of love (Aphrodite) ,
The Roman goddess of growth (Maia) ,
And Juno, the goddess of women, marriages and childbirth! !
Learn from them to know the wife of Jupiter as well;
For, we are all being saurrounded by the works of the gods and the goddesses!
The Germanic languages,
I am Maghe with the works of the secret codes of life in the land of the living;
But, very quick and eloquent is the muse of my love!
And like the acts of the god Woden in the alnd of many rivers.
The god Thunor (Thor) and the goddess Frigg,
With Old Norse like Venus the goddess of love!
But, try to learn from the old facts to push ahead with the truth always;
For, we are blindfolded to the secrets of this world.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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The Origin of Cupid -- A Fable
ON IDA'S mount the gods were met,
A sportive, jolly, noisy set,
Resolving nectar bowls to quaff,
To revel, riot, sing and laugh;
For gods will frolic now and then,
And err like earth-born sons of men.
From early dawn till setting day
The jocund hours had roll'd away,
When midst the group Apollo rose
This serious question to propose,
Who should succeed upon the throne
When Jupiter their king was gone?
MARS first his best excuses made,
War his delight and ancient trade;
Old NEPTUNE vow'd at such an age,
In state affairs he'd not engage:
BACCHUS preferr'd a draught of nectar
To any monarch's crown and sceptre.
At length fatigu'd with idle prating,
With contradiction and debating;
It was propos'd, and straight agreed,
A new-form'd monarch should succeed,
And each, to make the plan expedient,
Should of offer some DIVINE ingredient.
MARS offer'd couragetrain'd to arms;
VENUS her soft bewitching charms:
HERCULES strength; proud JUNO grace;
MOMUS his laughing, dimpled face;
APOLLO and the SISTERS NINE,
Gave polish'd manners, wit divine!
At length the infant was completed,
And on a throne of ether seated;
His beauty aw'd the gazing crowd;
Before his feet each veteran bow'd;
Each hop'd his gentle smiles to prove,
And hail'd the little monarch LOVE.
When lo, to check the mirthful hour,
Old TIME appear'd, with aspect sour;
His hoary locks like silver thread
Upon his stooping shoulders spread;
"Vain are your wishes" cried the sage;
"In useless toil you now engage,
Think ye, with all this vain parade,
To form a god without MY aid?
In all debates am I alone,
For age, and wise experience known;
Presumptuous wretches, you shall prove,
That TIME has pow'r TO CONQUER LOVE!
No settled bliss the Boy shall taste,
My pinions to his shoulders plac'd
Shall bear him to the world below;
Each change of fortune there to know;
While in each state the wretch shall be
A SUBJECT VASSAL STILL TO ME."
poem by Mary Darby Robinson
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The Mars Bar
Oh, lord have mercy for the blessed Mars Bar!
I taste the nought and caramel in my mouth,
And it goes so far,
Just that one Mars Bar!
That Mars Bar can ease my troubles,
And leave me at peace,
For chocolate bars are both a blessing and a curse,
I can't choose which is worse,
Oh, heavenly Mars Bar!
And in the shop I look around,
And see other chocolate and candy bars,
Feeling so ravenous and famished,
Sometimes a galaxy bar will do,
But I always come back,
To the faithful Mars Bar!
The naughty ritual of the schoolgirl,
Pressured to diet,
Dreading the day she will be middle aged and fat,
Not to mention a housewife,
But times are changing,
Curvy is in,
For eating never was a sin,
Oh, wonderful Mars Bar!
I am older now,
But remember fondly those trips,
To the corner shop,
Feeling quietly delighted,
At the same time,
Oh, glorious Mars Bar!
poem by Paula Glynn
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Daughters Of The Moon
DAUGHTERS OF THE MOON
In “Daughters of the Moon, ”
the moon falls to the earth,
and ends up very soon
where there's not a dearth
of ladies in a park
who, working with a spanner,
dance, nakedly quite stark
each one of them Diana,
abandoned dancing
among abandoned cars,
which I find as entrancing
as Venus is to Mars.
Joseph Farrell reviews Italo Calvino’s “The Complete Cosmicomics, ” translated by William Weaver, Tim Parks and Martin L. McLaughlin in the TLS, July 3,2009:
The later cosmicomic tales deal with days nearer our own times, and with people who live in places like New Jersey and drive cars, rather than plod over uncharted areas of the cosmos. It is possible to detect a darker side in the last stories. IN “Daughters of the Moon”, the moon falls to the earth, as in one of Leopardi’s poems, but this time it is in New York, and the moon ends up in a scrapyard with abandoned cars, to be greeted by a group of naked New York maidens, all called Diana. The scrapyard is as central as the burnt-out moon, and the tale is a protest against futile consumerism as well as a work of fantasy.
7/11/09
poem by Gershon Hepner
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Dazzling
Within the fortress of my dreams
I paint the moon and a star upon my forehead as
I watch Saturn appear from
Behind the late evening's mist-
Where I am alone but never lonely-
At dawn I can see the sun rise
From behind the evergreens that
So magically decorate hills of fortune-
The sky at daybreak is inviting while
The nighttime sky is mysterious-
The sky in the land of my fantasies is dazzling,
Where I am alone but never lonely,
Watching stars emerge from behind clouds of prosperity, and
Venus and mars are aligned with the full moon
Illuminating the darkness-
on this mystical night.
Inside the world of my imagination-
I paint the sky a deep shade of cerulean blue and
The moon and star upon my forehead-
Giving me the utmost peace of mind-
Within the fortress of my dreams-
I shall be awake at daybreak to welcome the sunrise-
As I bid farewell to the nighttime's splendor-
My thoughts are always within the cosmos and
The sky of my own universe seemingly carries a tune-
A tune akin to the aura of Bach's Magnificat-
The star I have painted gives me peace of mind-
I am never lonely in the land of my delusions-
The nighttime sky is mysterious and
I carry inside my thoughts a vision that never leaves me.
Upon those sleepless nights I sing, dance and
Marvel at the beauty of my dream world's sky-
Surreptitiously dazzling-
At times when I feel threatened by others who wish me ill fate-
I just close my eyes and lose myself inside the
Universe of my fondest reverie,
Watch the planets circumvent the moon, and
That beautifully amazing castle in the sky,
Where I am free to enter and close the door behind me to behold
Another amazingly dazzling night alone- but never lonely-
poem by Claudia Krizay
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A Will to Unit Venus and Mars
I have decided to make my will and leave everything that I have to myself.
Mars is scheduled to come on August 27, to stay within 34.65 miles of earth,
Then he shall only return in 2287, by then I might be ready to rebirth,
As for 280 years shall be well enough for two lives thenceforth,
For which I shall save all that I have, as they say I am from Venus,
After all that travelling I shall be back around Earth for Mars to nest our hearth.
I will leave all my poems, love letters and everything else,
All the feelings I have, and all the secrets I have shared,
Please save them to yourself, as for I shall come back to collect.
Don’t waste any time crying as I know time is rare nowadays,
Just go rush and be aware that I won’t have a penny to spare,
I shall save everything for myself because I won’t waste a day,
On August 27 I shall be here ready for Mars,
and on 2,287, back again for we shall have our MAR GRASS.
(August 19,2007)
poem by Florida Angel
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Father Time
Stop the Time!
I listen to the jerky breathing of
the Father time...
I listen to the seconds,
minutes and hours,
seeping through the ruthless hourglass
of the God of Time - Chronos!
And I wonder:
Would it be possible for Father Time,
to stop breathing?
To have a respiratory arrest
for at least...20 years!
poem by Viorel Vintila
Submitted by Viorel Vintila
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You've Got Me
You've got me,
Beaming down from the stars.
You've got me,
Leaping Venus and Mars.
And passing by Jupiter,
Somersaulting in...
Cosmic fever.
You've got me,
Glued and magnetized too.
You've got me,
And I am glad it is you.
I'm leaping Venus and Mars...
Somersaulting as I vault,
With Cosmic fever.
You've got me,
Glued and magnetized too.
You've got me,
And I am glad it is you.
You've got me...
Stuck in Universal fever.
You've got me,
Beaming down from the stars.
You've got me,
Leaping Venus and Mars.
And passing by Jupiter,
Somersaulting in...
Cosmic fever.
You've got me,
Glued and magnetized too.
You've got me,
And I am glad it is you.
I'm leaping Venus and Mars...
Somersaulting as I vault,
With Cosmic fever.
You've got me,
Leaping Venus and Mars.
Somersaulting in...
Cosmic fever.
And you've got me,
Leaping Venus and Mars.
Somersaulting in...
Cosmic fever.
Yes...
I guess,
You've got me,
Leaping Venus and Mars.
Somersaulting in...
Cosmic fever.
poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar
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A Door To World Peace
The door to world peace is open.
All nations are invited to come in.
A welcome mat is available for every one,
And rogue nations may enter again.
The door to world peace is open
And no nation is turned away,
But if few decide not to enter the fold,
Peace will be shortlived in every way.
Peace keepers fill our hearts with hope,
And attempt to dry our heavy tears,
And open hearts for sound relationships
That will last for many delightful years.
A nation that is closed to others
Grows harder than concrete or stone,
And the people who reside there
Are destined to be isolated and alone.
If you slam the door on some nations,
Peace initiatives will continue to cease,
But if all nations are willing to compromise,
What a difference it can make to seek peace?
Skeptical nations will always wonder
How world peace might have been
When the door was open for them to enter,
But they failed to come in.
poem by Joseph T. Renaldi
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Most comics make jokes to defend themselves against what they see as a hostile and inhumane world often a deeply felt rage.
quote by Samuel S. Janus
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Flexitime for Friend Denis joe
A blank faced clock which has no hands
must still obey Chronos’ commands.
The minutes pass without display.
Times moves on inexorably
the hours passing speedily
Today replaces yesterday.
Why are men obsessed by the clock
they measure every tick and tock.
What does it matter anyway?
we know that darkness rules the night
and that the day is filled by light.
Some time to sleep and work or play.
Avid clock watchers fail to see
that time can pass variably.
4-May-08
http: //Blog.myspace.com/poeticpiers
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Overbird
O = Once upon the midnight enter hurry
V = Verily the hurry worry enter scurry
E = Eerily or early bird of enter Poe
R = Raven is only one huge enter Crow
B = Better to see them from the
distance of the hour glasses with
thick lenses enter Tommy use your eye
I = Intense discussion rules get broken
enter time to turn the worm over
enter into the night
R = Roman Judges rule nothing enter Rome
not one stone standing of the Jewish enter
temple now
D = Describe the Vulture in the Temple its
got wings of darkness its got red eye
with long black enter nose this time
this poem enter perfect prose
poem by Charles Hice
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Four Letters
Four letters suffice to code life’s story -
monocell to Man ‘in all his glory’.
Pandora’s box is henceforth open wide.
Who knows what plagues or miracles inside
will string the future as both young and hoary
within new spiral spin? Few hunky-dory
may find tomorrow as without true guide
Fools, we break ground, rules, cause tsunami tide,
or earthquake premonitory -
not only warning salvatory.
Is man omniscient, tinkering inside
DNA seen as 'Drive Nature Aside',
self-catalyst for causal time-bomb burst
as Chronos swallows humankind head first?
poem by Jonathan Robin
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Life In The West.
Ho! brothers--come hither and list to my story--
Merry and brief will the narrative be.
Here, like a monarch, I reign in my glory--
Master am I, boys, of all that I see!
Where once frowned a forest, a garden is smiling--
The meadow and moorland are marshes no more;
And there curls the smoke of my cottage, beguiling
The children who cluster like grapes round my door.
Then enter, boys; cheerly, boys, enter and rest;
The land of the heart is the land of the West!
Oho, boys!--oho, boys!--oho!
Talk not of the town, boys--give me the broad prairie,
Where man, like the wind, roams impulsive and free:
Behold how its beautiful colors all vary,
Like those of the clouds, or the deep-rolling sea!
A life in the woods, boys, is even as changing;
With proud independence we season our cheer,
And those who the world are for happiness ranging,
Won't find it at all if they don't find it here.
Then enter, boys; cheerly, boys, enter and rest!
I'll show you the life, boys, we live in the West!
Oho, boys!--oho, boys!--oho!
Here, brothers, secure from all turmoil and danger,
We reap what we sow, for the soil is our own;
We spread hospitality's board for the stranger,
And care not a jot for the king on his throne.
We never know want, for we live by our labor,
And in it contentment and happiness find;
We do what we can for a friend or a neighbor,
And die, boys, in peace and good-will to mankind.
Then enter, boys; cheerly, boys, enter and rest;
You know how we live, boys, and die in the West!
Oho, boys!--oho, boys!--oho!
poem by George Pope Morris
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Venus & Mars - Reprise
Standing in the hall
Of the great cathedral
Waiting for the transport to come
Starship 21zna9
A good friend of mine
Studies the stars
Venus and mars
Are alright tonight.
Come away on a strange vacation
Holiday hardly begun
Run into a good friend of mine
Sold me her sign
Reach for the stars
Venus and mars
Are alright tonight
song performed by by Paul McCartney
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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