| John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913. | | | | Songs from the Plays | | “After the pangs of a desperate Lover,” from An Evening’s Love |
| | | AFTER the pangs of a desperate Lover. | |
| When day and night I have sigh’d all in vain, | |
| Ah what a Pleasure it is to discover | |
| In her eyes pity, who causes my pain! | |
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| When with unkindness our Love at a stand is, | 5 |
| And both have punish’d our selves with the pain, | |
| Ah what a pleasure the touch of her hand is, | |
| Ah what a pleasure to press it again! | |
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| When the denial comes fainter and fainter, | |
| And her Eyes give what her tongue does deny, | 10 |
| Ah what a trembling I feel when I venture, | |
| Ah what a Trembling does usher my joy! | |
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| When, with a Sigh, she accords me the blessing, | |
| And her Eyes twinkle ’twixt pleasure and pain; | |
| Ah what a joy ’tis, beyond all Expressing, | 15 |
| Ah what a joy to hear, shall we again! | | | | |
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