T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Narcissus, Come Kiss Us!
Anonymous(Rawlinson MS. Poet; (c. 1610–50;) also Ane Pleasant Garden) |
AS I was a walking, I cannot tell where, | |
| Nor whither, in verse or in prose; | |
| Nor know I the meaning, altho’ they all sate, | |
| Even, as it were, under my nose. | |
| But ever and ever the ladies all cried, | 5 |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| There came in a lad from I cannot tell where, | |
| With I cannot tell what in his hand; | |
| It was a fine thing, tho’ it had little sense, | |
| But yet it would lustily stand. | 10 |
| Then ever and ever the ladies all cried, | |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| Some shaked it, some stroked it, some kiss’d it, it’s said, | |
| For it looked so lovely indeed, | |
| All loved it as honey, and none were afraid, | 15 |
| Because of their bodily need. | |
| Then ever and ever the ladies all cried, | |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| At length he did put his pretty fine toy | |
| (I cannot tell were ’twas) below, | 20 |
| Into one of these ladies, I cannot tell why, | |
| Nor wherefore, that he should do so. | |
| Then ever and ever the ladies all cried, | |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| But when these fair ladies had sported all night, | 25 |
| And rifled Dame Nature’s scant store; | |
| And pleasured themselves with Venus’ delight, | |
| Till the youth could hardly do more. | |
| Then ever and ever the ladies all cried, | |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | 30 |
| The lad being tired, began to retreat, | |
| And hang down his head like a flower; | |
| The ladies the more did desire a new heat, | |
| But alas! it was out of his power. | |
| But ever and ever the ladies all cried, | 35 |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| When full forty weeks were expired, | |
| A pitiful story to tell, | |
| These ladies did get what they little desired, | |
| For their bellies began for to swell. | 40 |
| Still ever and ever the ladies all cried, | |
| “Narcissus, come kiss us, and love us beside.” | |
| Lucina in pity then sent them her aid, | |
| To cease them of all their sorrow; | |
| But when these fair ladies were once brought to bed, | 45 |
| They still had the same mind tomorrow. | |
| And dandling their babies they rantingly—cried, | |
| “Narcissus, shant miss us, and be by our side!” | |