Venus and Mars

[hephty]

Venus and Mars

Apollo, who sees everything, had seen
The love affair between Venus and Mars,
And went to Vulcan to inform him of
What he had seen. When Vulcan heard the news
Of this betrayal, he was angered and filled
With righteous jealousy, and so devised a plan
To snare the two and catch them in the act,
Wherefore he fashioned a net made of gold
With threads so fine 't was nigh invisible
T' the naked eye, and then went to the chamber
Of their adultery and placed it round
The bed and waited for the two to come,
When he would spring his trap and shame them both.
Before long both Venus and Mars appeared
And fell into the bed as she embraced him,
When Vulcan saw his chance, and, in a fit
Of rage, ensnared the lovers in the act,
And dragged them to the heights of Mount Olympus,
And threw them down before the rest o' the gods
To publicly shame them, uncovering
Their wanton, lustful deeds for all to see.
The gods then gathered round, and when they saw
The struggling pair, thought it humorous
The way they fought and kicked in vain to free
Themselves, and laughed about the whole ordeal
Making a mockery of the whole scene.
Vulcan, then, sought to be granted divorce
And asked that he be recompensed for all
That he had paid, in vain, for Venus' hand.
Jupiter saw the jealous anger burning
On Vulcan's countenance, and so in pity,
Sought to appease the smith god with the promise,
If he would keep his wife, that Mars would pay
To make amends and settle the dispute.
Vulcan agreed an' kept Venus for his wife.


Hephty

[hephty]

In some accounts this affair is what lead to the birth of Cupid.

[hephty]

edited

[hephty]

I only say this now because it's important to me, and I want the details known, or else be completely lost.

[hephty]

moved Athena to it's own thread.