| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | A Song: “In vain, Clemene, you bestow” | | By Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset (1638–1706) |
| | (Contributed to Southerne’s Sir Anthony Love, 1691) |
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IN vain, Clemene, you bestow | |
| The promised empire of your heart: | |
| If you refuse to let me know | |
| The wealthy charms of every part. | |
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| My passion with your kindness grew, | 5 |
| Tho’ beauty gave the first desire: | |
| But beauty only to pursue | |
| Is following a wand’ring fire. | |
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| As hills in perspective suppress | |
| The free enquiry of the sight; | 10 |
| Restraint makes every pleasure less | |
| And takes from love the full delight. | |
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| Faint kisses may in part supply | |
| Those eager longings of my soul; | |
| But oh! I’m lost if you deny | 15 |
| A quick possession of the whole. | | | |
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