Laus Veneris and Other Poems and Ballads Author:Algernon Charles Swinburne 1875. A collection of verse by the poet Swinburne who is one of the very few, since the days of Raleigh and Sidney, to come from the aristocracy. He was also well-known for his sexual proclivities and debauched lifestyle. The title poem, Laus Veneris, explores the theme of the destructive power of Venus's love. See other titles by this author av... more »ailable from Kessinger Publishing.« less