Young Cupid hath proclaimed

Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a startling image: Cupid, the god of love, has declared a "bloody war" and vows revenge on all maidens. The speaker urgently warns "fair Cloris" to surrender. Otherwise, she faces a grim future, where "afterpenance make thy folly rue." It's a stark, almost threatening call to embrace love or face severe consequences. The central tension builds around Cloris's resistance and the implied danger of her maidenhood in the face of Cupid's wrath. The phrase "foul jar" hints at an unpleasant, inescapable predicament if she doesn't yield. The speaker frames her resistance as a "folly," suggesting a conventional expectation that young women should succumb to love's advances. However, the lyrics deliver a powerful twist in their final lines. Despite Cupid's aggressive campaign, the speaker admits, "I fear, her wond'rous beauty's such." This beauty isn't an invitation for Cupid's arrows; it's a formidable shield. The ultimate craft element here is the ironic reversal: "A thousand Cupids dare not Cloris touch." This unexpected turn makes Cloris an incredibly compelling figure. Her beauty isn't just admired; it's so potent it renders her immune to the very force meant to conquer her. The lyrics effectively subvert the traditional narrative, portraying Cloris not as a passive target, but as an untouchable, almost intimidating, presence whose allure transcends even the god of love's power.