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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  A Motion to Pleasure

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

A Motion to Pleasure

Anonymous
 
(From Harl. MS. 6917)

STILL to affect, still to admire,
Yet never satisfy desire
With touch of hand, or lip, or that
Which pleaseth best (I name not what),—
Like Tantalus I pining die,        5
Taking Love’s dainties at the eye.
 
Nature made nothing but for use,
And, fairest, ’twere a gross abuse
To her best work if you it hold
Unused, like misers’ ill-got gold,        10
Or keep it in a virgin scorn,
Like rich robes that are seldom worn.