Author: Thomas Moore

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    When Love, who ruled as Admiral o'er
    Has rosy mother's isles of light,
    Was cruising off the Paphian shore,
        A sail at sunset hove in sight.
    "A chase, a chase! my Cupids all,"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    Aloft the winged sailors sprung,
        And, swarming up the mast like bees,
    The snow-white sails expanding flung,
        Like broad magnolias to the breeze.
    "Yo ho, yo ho, my Cupids all!"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    The chase was o'er--the bark was caught,
        The winged crew her freight explored;
    And found 'twas just as Love had thought,
        For all was contraband aboard.
    "A prize, a prize, my Cupids all!"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    Safe stowed in many a package there,
        And labelled slyly o'er, as "Glass,"
    Were lots of all the illegal ware,
        Love's Custom-House forbids to pass.
    "O'erhaul, o'erhaul, my Cupids all,"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    False curls they found, of every hue,
        With rosy blushes ready made;
    And teeth of ivory, good as new,
        For veterans in the smiling trade.
    "Ho ho, ho ho, my Cupids all,"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    Mock sighs, too,--kept in bags for use,
        Like breezes bought of Lapland seers,--
    Lay ready here to be let loose,
        When wanted, in young spinsters' ears.
    "Ha ha, ha ha, my Cupids all,"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    False papers next on board were found,
        Sham invoices of flames and darts,
    Professedly for Paphos bound,
        But meant for Hymen's golden marts.
    "For shame, for shame, my Cupids all!"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    Nay, still to every fraud awake,
        Those pirates all Love's signals knew,
    And hoisted oft his flag, to make
        Rich wards and heiresses bring-to.[1]
    "A foe, a foe, my Cupids all!"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    "This must not be," the boy exclaims,
        "In vain I rule the Paphian seas,
    "If Love's and Beauty's sovereign names
        "Are lent to cover frauds like these.
    "Prepare, prepare, my Cupids all!"
    Said Love, the little Admiral.

    Each Cupid stood with lighted match--
        A broadside struck the smuggling foe,
    And swept the whole unhallowed batch
        Of Falsehood to the depths below.
    "Huzza, huzza! my Cupids all!"
    Said Love the little Admiral.

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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This is a delightful, whimsical poem that uses the extended metaphor of Love as an admiral on the high seas, complete with a crew of Cupids, to explore themes of deception, contraband, and authenticity in the realm of love and beauty. The tone is playful, yet underneath the humor, there is a clear criticism of artificiality and fraud in matters of the heart.

The poem is structured as a narrative, unfolding a mini maritime adventure with Love at the helm. The poet uses repetition to great effect, with the repeating line "Said Love, the little Admiral" serving as a refrain, giving the poem a rhythmic, song-like quality. The poet's use of vivid imagery - winged sailors, snow-white sails, false curls of every hue - paints a detailed and amusing picture for the reader. Similes such as "And, swarming up the mast like bees," add to the vividness of the descriptions.

The poem is not merely a tale of high seas adventure, but a commentary on the nature of love and beauty. It critiques the falseness and deceit that often accompanies romance - the contraband includes false curls, ready-made blushes, and sham invoices of flames and darts. These items symbolize the artificial enhancements and manipulations people use in the pursuit of love. The poem ends on a triumphant note, with Love and his Cupids purging the sea of these false commodities, thus asserting the importance of authenticity in matters of love. The poet uses humor and wit to convey this message in a lighthearted, accessible manner.