Muses Thalia and Erato had a special Valentine Parlour surprise for their players as they took them into the Tunnel of Love at Meditation Park where Muse Erato just HAD to see the pink swan. She was in awe and thought it to be the most beautiful swan ever, and as a result decided to host Parlour Games there.

Muse Erato then read the story of Cupid and his love story with Psyche. It had taken a tragic turn, somewhat similar to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette, but had a happy ending with Cupid and Psyche being together.

Filled with the romantic spirit that day, Muse Erato recited her favourite Love poem to the guests.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need; by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,--I love thee with the breath.
Smiles, tears, of all my life!--and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

By: Elizabeth Barrnett Browning

Feeling somewhat inspired by the romantic ambience in the Parlour, Muse Thalia then shared one of her favourite love poems:

Shall I compare thee to a Summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And Summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And oft' is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd:
But thy eternal Summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

By: William Shakespeare

To conclude a most romantic evening, Muse Erato seranaded everyone with a lovely old ballad:

Let me Call You Sweetheart
Words by Beth Slater Whitson, Music by Leo Friedman

I am dreaming Dear of you, day by day
Dreaming when the skies are blue, When they're gray;
When the silv'ry moonlight gleams, Still I wander on in dreams,
In a land of love, it seems, Just with you.

Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true.
Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.

Longing for you all the while, More and more;
Longing for you all the while, More and more;
Longing for the sunny smile, I adore;
Birds are singing far and near, Roses blooming ev'rywhere
You, alone, my heart can cheer; You, just you.

Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too.
Keep the love-light glowing in your eyes so true.
Let me call you "Sweetheart," I'm in love with you.

Please join Muses Thalia and Erato on Tuesdays for Parlour in the Morpheus Rose Garden East at 4pm WA for many fun games, laughs and surprises!