Claudianus on the Magnet.

Rough food preserves the secret vigor.
With this absent, it perishes, the dying limbs grow numb
With sad hunger, and thirst consumes the open veins.
Mars, who beats cities with his bloody spear,
And Venus, who releases human cares into leisure,
Hold the shrines of a gilded temple in common.
There is not one image for the Gods: but the iron form
Of Mars shines, while the magnetic gem represents Venus.
The priest celebrates a marriage for them according to custom,
Flame leads the dances, thresholds greening with myrtle
Are garlanded, and couches rise with rose-colored
Flowers, and a dotal purple veils the bridal chamber.
Here a wondrous work arises, Cytherea another name for Venus seizes her husband
Of her own will, and imitating the former marriage beds of heaven,
She binds his Martian breast with wanton breath,
And suspends the heavy weight, and wraps her arms around his helmet,
And surrounds his whole self with living embraces.
He, provoked by the long action of her spirit,
Is drawn by secret knots from his gem-like spouse.
Nature becomes the bridesmaid for the Gods, and tenacious air
Marries the iron: the Divinities are joined in sudden thefts.
What heat infuses alternating covenants into the twin metals?
What concord joins hard minds?
The breathless flint blazes, and the wounded steel senses its friend,
And the steel knows placid loves.
Thus Venus is accustomed to calm the horrific King of war,