| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | As I Walked in the Woods | | By Thomas Shadwell (1642–1692) |
| | (From The Miser, Act II, Scene 2. 1672)
AS I walked in the woods one evening of late, | |
| A Lass was deploring her hapless estate, | |
| She sighed, and she sobbed, Ah, wretched, she said; | |
| Will no youth come to succour a languishing Maid? | |
| Shall I still sigh and cry, and look pale and wan, | 5 |
| And languish for ever for want of a man? | |
| |
| At first when I saw a young man in the place, | |
| My color would fade, and then flush in my face, | |
| My breath would grow short, and I shivered all o’er; | |
| I thought ’twas an Ague, but Alas it was more, | 10 |
| For e’re since I’ve sighed, and do what I can, | |
| I find I must languish for want of a man. | |
| |
| When in bed all the night I weep on my Pillow, | |
| To see others happy, while I wear the Willow; | |
| I revenge myself on the innocent sheet, | 15 |
| Where in rage I have oftentimes made my Teeth meet: | |
| But all this won’t serve, let me do what I can, | |
| I find I must languish for want of a man. | |
| |
| Now all my fresh color deserted my face, | |
| And let a pale greenness succeed in the place, | 20 |
| I pine and grow faint, and refuse all my meat, | |
| And nothing but Chalk, Lime, or Oatmeal, can eat: | |
| But in my despair I’ll die if I can, | |
| And languish no longer for want of a man. | | | | |
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