The song "A Cameo" by Algernon Charles Swinburne depicts a vivid image of Desire, Pain, and Pleasure as graven images painted with red blood on a ground of gold. The figures of Satiety, Death, and various senses, sorrows, and sins are also present, illustrating the complex and often conflicting emotions and experiences that make up human existence. The song seems to convey the idea that desire, pain, and pleasure are intertwined and inseparable. The mention of Satiety, walking with feet unshod that pashed the mire, suggests a lack of fulfillment and a constant longing for more. The presence of Death standing aloof behind a gaping grate, upon whose lock was written Peradventure, hints at the uncertainty and inevitability of mortality. Overall, the song A Cameo seems to explore the darker and more enigmatic aspects of human emotion and experience. It portrays a world of intense desires, pains, and pleasures, as well as the ever-present specter of mortality, all of which are depicted in a vivid and evocative manner.
