Court Odes: While Venus in her snowy arms
 Selected item (#2030) = While Venus in her snowy arms
 Attributes of this item 
incipit (first line(s), normalized): While Venus in her snowy arms
version (if more than one exists):
the item's genre (general): ode
the item's genre (specific): Birthday, Duke of Gloucester
the institution/place or purpose 
for which the work was first destined:		 English court
the work's year (or focal date, if known): 1699
author of the text: John Hughes
composer of the music: [composer unknown]
Number of texts stored: 1  
  • Selected text (below): #127 / Source: The Poetical Works of John Hughes, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: Apollo Press, by the Martins, 1779), pp. 38–39
 Selected text (#127) / Source: The Poetical Works of John Hughes, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: Apollo Press, by the Martins, 1779), pp. 38–39  
 Attributes of the selected text 
source for this text
(short title, or library & shelfmark):		 The Poetical Works of John Hughes, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: Apollo Press, by the Martins, 1779)
location in the source?
(i.e. which vol., pp. or fols):		 pp. 38–39
type of source: print, literary text, anthology
the source online (if available):
modern edition of this text:
special title (if any):
version (if more than one exists):
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Transcription:          
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SONG II.

Written for the late / DUKE OF GLOUCESTER’S BIRTH-DAY, 1699.

I.
While Venus in her snowy arms
The god of Battles held,
And sooth’d him with her tender charms,
Victorious from the field,
By chance she cast a lovely smile,
Propitious, down to eath,
And view’d, in Britain’s happy isle,
Great Glou’ster’s glorious birth.

II.
“Look, Mars,” she said; “look down, and see
“A child of royal race!
“Let’s crown the bright nativity
With ev’ry princely grace.
“Thy heav’nly image let him bear,
“And shine a Mars below:
“From you his mind to warlike care,
“I’ll softer gifts bestow.”

III.
Thus at his birth two deities
Their blessings did impart,
And love was breath’d into his eyes,
And glory form’d his heart.
His childhood makes of war a game;
Betimes his beauty charms
The fair, who burn with equal flame
For him as he for arms.
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