All 8 Uses of
Cupid
in
A Midsummer Night's Dream
- I swear to thee by Cupid's strongest bow,
Scene 1.1 *Cupid = Roman mythology: god of love
- Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind.†
Scene 1.1
- OBERON That very time I saw,—but thou couldst not,— Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid, all arm'd: a certain aim he took At a fair vestal, throned by the west; And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts; But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon; And the imperial votaress passed on, In maiden meditation, fancy-free.†
Scene 2.1
- OBERON That very time I saw,—but thou couldst not,— Flying between the cold moon and the earth, Cupid, all arm'd: a certain aim he took At a fair vestal, throned by the west; And loos'd his love-shaft smartly from his bow, As it should pierce a hundred thousand hearts; But I might see young Cupid's fiery shaft Quench'd in the chaste beams of the watery moon; And the imperial votaress passed on, In maiden meditation, fancy-free.†
Scene 2.1
- Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell: It fell upon a little western flower,— Before milk-white, now purple with love's wound,— And maidens call it love-in-idleness.†
Scene 2.1
- OBERON Flower of this purple dye, Hit with Cupid's archery, Sink in apple of his eye!†
Scene 3.2
- Here she comes, curst and sad:— Cupid is a knavish lad, Thus to make poor females mad.†
Scene 3.2
- Dian's bud o'er Cupid's flower Hath such force and blessed power.†
Scene 4.1
Definition:
Roman mythology: god of love; a small, winged boy whose arrows make those struck fall in love