| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | The Willing Mida | | Anonymous |
| | (From MS. in the British Museum, c. 1682)
MIDA, the glory of whose beauties’ rays | |
| Gain’d heaven’s high wonder, and earth’s best praise, | |
| She, Thirsis met, both faire and lovely too; | |
| He liked her well, but knew not how to woo. | |
| |
| They, arm in arm, into the garden walked, | 5 |
| Where endless riddles all the day they talked; | |
| Her speech and motion wisely had an end, | |
| Yet knew he not whereto they did attend. | |
| |
| She, grieved to see his youth no better taught, | |
| To gather him a posy he her besought: | 10 |
| With that, her light say gown she then up tuckt, | |
| And “May” for him, and “Tyme” for her, she pluckt. | |
| |
| Which, when she brought, he took her by the middle, | |
| And kist her oft, but could not read the riddle: | |
| “Oh, fool!” quoth she, and so burst into laughter, | 15 |
| Blusht, ran away, and scorn’d him ever after. | | | | |
|
|
