| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | The Progress of Love | | By Robert Dodsley (1704–1764) |
| | | BENEATH the myrtle’s secret shade, | |
| When Delia blest my eyes; | |
| At first I view’d the lovely maid | |
| In silent soft surprise. | |
| With trembling voice, and anxious mind, | 5 |
| I softly whisper’d love; | |
| She blush’d a smile so sweetly kind, | |
| Did all my fears remove. | |
| Her lovely yielding form I prest, | |
| Sweet maddening kisses stole; | 10 |
| And soon her swimming eyes confest | |
| The wishes of her soul: | |
| In wild tumultuous bliss I cry, | |
| “O Delia, now be kind!” | |
| She press’d me close, and with a sigh, | 15 |
| To melting joys resign’d. | | | | |
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