Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Amyntas

Anonymous

(From Bristol Drollery, 1674) AFTER long service, and a thousand vows
To her glad Lover, she more kindness shows:
Oft had Amyntas with her tresses played,
When the Sun’s vigour drove ’em to a shade;
And many a time he had given her a green Gown;	5
And oft he kist her when he had her down.
With signs and motions he to her made known
What fain he wou’d have done, then with a frown
She wou’d forbid him, till the minute came
That she no longer could conceal her flame.	10
The Am’rous Shepherd forward to espie
Love’s yielding motions triumph in her eye.
With eager transport, strait himself addrest,
To taste the pleasure of so rich a feast,
When with resistance, and a seeming flight,	15
As ’twere t’increase her Lover’s appetite;
Unto a place where flowers thicker grew,
Out of his arms, as swift as air she flew:
Daphne ne’er run so light and fast as she,
When from the God’s she fled, and turn’d t’a Tree.	20
The Youth pursu’d, nor needs he run amain,
Since she intended to be overta’en.
He drop’t no Apple, nor no golden ball,
To stay her flight, for she herself did fall.
Where, ’mongst the Flowers, like Flora’s self she lay,	25
To gain more breath, that she might los’t in play:
She pluckt a Flower, and at Amyntas threw,
When he addrest to crop a flower too.
Then a faint strife she seemed to renew,
She smil’d, she frown’d, she wou’d, and wou’d not do.	30
At length o’ercome, she suffers with a sigh,
Her ravish’d Lover use his Victory:
And gave him leave to punish her delay,
With double vigour in the Amorous fray.
And then, alas! soon ended the delight,	35
For too much Love had hastn’ed its flight;
And ev’ry ravisht sense too soon awake,
Rap’t up in bliss it did but now partake:
Which left the Lovers in a state to prove,
Long were the pains, but short the joys of Love.	40