Apollo und Hyazinth



(Recreation in accordance to) GIULIO ROMANO (1499-1546)
                                                                   Apollo and Hyazinth (w.d.)

 

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Illustration for "Amours des Dieux".
Romanos Works were destroyed, and the artist was forced to leave Rome.

The following scene, an excerpt from "The Tragedy Of Dido, Queen Of Carthage" by Christopher Marlowe (1564 - 1593), does not involve Apollo and Hyazinth, but Zeus and Ganymede. However, the erotic atmosphere of both scene and illustration are very similar - which is the reason why both are presented here together:

 

Here the curtains draw: there is discovered JUPITER dandling GANYMEDE upon his knee, and HERMES lying asleep.

Jupiter        Come, gentle Ganymede, and play with me;
                    I love thee well, say Juno what she will.

Ganymede   I am much better for your worthless love,
                    That will not shield me from her shrweish blows!
                    To day, whenas I fill'd into your cups,
                    And held the cloth of pleasance whiles you drank,
                    She reach'd me such a rap for that I spill'd,
                    As made the blood run down about mine ears.

Jupiter        What, dares she strike the darling of my thoughts?
                    By Saturn's soul, and this earth-threatening hair,
                    That, shakren thrice, makes nature's buildings quake,
                    I vow, if she but once frown on thee more,
                    To hang her, meteor like, 'twixt heaven and earth,
                    And bind her, hand and foot, with golden cords,
                    As once I did for harming Hercules!

Ganymede   Might I but see that pretty sport a-foot
                    O, how would I with Helen's brother laugh
                    And bring the Gods to wonder at the game!
                    Sweet Jupiter, if e'er I pleas'd thine eye,
                    Or seemed fair, wall'd-in with eagle's wings,
                    Grace my immiortal beauty with this boon,
                    And I will spend my time in thy bright arms.

Jupiter        What is't, sweet wag, that I should deny thy youth?
                    Whose face reflects such pleasure to mine eyes,
                    As I, exhal'd with thy fire-darting beams,
                    Have oft driven back the horses of the Night,
                    Whenas they would have hal'd thee from my sight.
                    Sit on my knee, and call for thy content,
                    Control proud Fate, and cut the thread of time:
                    Why, are not all the gods at thy commande,
                    And heaven and earth the bounds of thy delight?
                    Vulcan shall dance to make thee laughing sport,
                    And my nine daughters sing when thou art sad;
                    From Juno's bird I'll pluck her spotted pride,
                    To make thee fans wherewith to cool thy face;
                    And Venus' swans shall shed their silver down,
                    To sweeten out their slumbers of thy bed;
                    Hermes no more shall show the world his wings,
                    If that thy fancy in his feathers dwell,
                    But, as this one, I'll tear them all from him
                                                           (Plucks a feather from Hermes' wings.
                    Do thou but say, "their colour pleaseth me."
                    Hold here, my little love, these linked gems
                                                           (Gives jewels.
                    My Juno ware upon her marriage-day,
                    Put thou about thy neck, my own sweet heart,
                    And trick thy arms and shoulders with my theft.

Ganymede   I would have a jewel for mine ear,
                    And a fine brooch to put in my hat,
                    And then I'll hug with you an hundred times.

Jupiter        And shalt have, Ganymede, if thou wilt be my love.