| |
(From The Festival of Love, 1789)
COME, Cytherea, with thy doves, | |
| And all thy train of little loves, | |
| Come from Idalia’s pleasing shade, | |
| For joy and amorous frolics made; | |
| Come, and assist an artless tune | 5 |
| Which strives to warble forth the Honey-moon. | |
| |
| When Hymen does the pair unite, | |
| And promises supreme delight; | |
| With sparkling torch comes bright to view, | |
| And points at raptures great and new: | 10 |
| What pleasure is expected soon! | |
| Then, then! comes on the pleasing Honey-moon. | |
| |
| Cynthia, the virgin goddess bright, | |
| With greater speed rides down the night; | |
| Her modesty betrays her heart, | 15 |
| Shows in such sports she’d take a part; | |
| But that her wish she dares not own | |
| Or Jove with her would have an Honey-moon. | |
| |
| “An Honey-moon!” cries simpering miss, | |
| “I wonder much what’s meant by this! | 20 |
| I have all sweets quite near me, handy, | |
| Is Honey-moon like sugar-candy?” | |
| The joyful time will tell you soon, | |
| When you will bless the Honey-moon. | |
| |
| Ah! then those sweets, unknown before, | 25 |
| Will make you long, dear miss, for more; | |
| Will make you lick your lips, and cry | |
| “Till now, O what a fool was I! | |
| What pleasing touches!—what a tune | |
| Can e’er be played that’s like a Honey-moon?” | 30 |
| |
| Could but the virgin in her teens, | |
| Tell what the joys of wedlock means; | |
| She would not long the bliss delay, | |
| But with the first dear youth away; | |
| On Venus’ bed would tumble down, | 35 |
| And there prolong the Honey-moon. | |
| |
| When heaving breasts delightful rise, | |
| And pant with soft ecstatic sighs! | |
| When folding arms fond arms embrace, | |
| And love seems furious for the chase; | 40 |
| Unnumbered joys the pair must crown, | |
| Who then begin the pleasing Honey-moon. | |
| |
| Ah! then encounter breast with breast, | |
| And tenderest accents are expressed; | |
| “My love, I melt! I burn! I burst!” | 45 |
| The next is better than the first; | |
| And so progressive they go on, | |
| To make a heaven of their Honey-moon. | |
| |
| Then all the youthful poet’s dream, | |
| Beneath the shade, or by the stream, | 50 |
| Is realized, and certain found, | |
| Beyond imagination’s bound; | |
| All that can please is felt, or shown | |
| During the happy time of Honey-moon. | |
| |
| Then haste, ye youths, and haste ye fair, | 55 |
| Love’s banquet of delight to share; | |
| Advance to Hymen’s sacred fane, | |
| A rich reward you’ll surely gain; | |
| Each rapture will attend you soon, | |
| And give you all the joys of Honey-moon. | 60 |
| |
