Away with your stories of Hades, <br />Which the Flamen has forged to affright us- <br />We laugh at your three Maiden Ladies, <br />Your Fates-and your sullen Cocytus. <br /> <br />Poor Jove has a troublesome life, sir, <br />Could we credit your tales of his portals- <br />In shutting his ears on his wife, sir, <br />And opening his eyes upon mortals. <br /> <br />Oh, blest be the bright Epicurus! <br />Who taught us to laugh at such fables; <br />On Hades they wanted to moor us, <br />And his hand cut the terrible cables. <br /> <br />If, then, there's a Jove or a Juno, <br />They vex not their heads about us, man; <br />Besides, if they did, I and you know <br />'Tis the life of a god to live thus, man! <br /> <br />What! think you the gods place their bliss-eh?- <br />In playing the spy on a sinner? <br />In counting the girls that we kiss, eh? <br />Or the cups that we empty at dinner? <br /> <br />Content with the soft lips that love us, <br />This music, this wine, and this mirth, boys, <br />We care not for gods up above us- <br />We know there's no god for this earth, boys!<br /><br />Edward George Bulwer-Lytton<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/epicurean-song/
