Thomas D'Urfey (1653-1723). Sawney Was Tall and of Noble Race. T.R. Smith, ed. 1921-22. Poetica Erotica: A Collection of Rare and Curious Amatory Verse

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

“Sawney Was Tall and of Noble Race”

By Thomas D’Urfey (1653–1723)


(From The Virtuous Wife, 1680) SAWNEY was tall and of Noble Race,
And lov’d me better than any eane;
But now he ligs by another Lass,
And Sawney will ne’er be my love agen:
I gave him fine Scotch Sarke and Band,	5
I put ’em on with mine own hand;
I gave him House, and I gave him Land,
Yet Sawney will ne’er be my Love agen.

I robb’d the Groves of all their store,
And Nosegays made to give Sawney one;	10
He kiss’d my Breast and feign would do more,
Geud feth me thought he was a bonny one:
He squeez’d my fingers, grasp’d my knee,
And carv’d my Name on each green Tree,
And sigh’d and languish’d to lig by me,	15
Yet now he wo’not be my Love agen.

My Bongrace and my Sun-burnt-face,
He prais’d, and also my Russet Gown;
But now he doats on the Copper Lace,
Of some lewd Quean of London Town:	20
He gangs and gives her Curds and Cream,
Whilst I poor Soul sit sighing at heam,
And near joy Sawney unless in a Dream,
For now he ne’er will be my Love again.