T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Love’s Fancy
By John Dryden (1631–1700)(From An Evening’s Love, 1671) AFTER the pangs of a desperate Lover, | |
| When a day and night I have sighed all in vain, | |
| Ah what a pleasure it is to discover, | |
| In her eyes pity who causes my pain! | |
| When with unkindness our Love at a stand is, | 5 |
| And both have punish’d our selves with the pain, | |
| Ah what a pleasure the touch of her hand is! | |
| Ah what a pleasure to touch it again! | |
| When the denial comes fainter and fainter, | |
| And her eyes gives what her tongue does deny, | 10 |
| Ah what a trembling I feel when I venture, | |
| Ah what a trembling does usher my Joy! | |
| When, with a Sigh, she accords me the blessing | |
| And her eyes twinkle ’twixt pleasure and pain, | |
| Ah, what a Joy ’tis beyond all expressing! | 15 |
| Ah, what a Joy to hear, Shall we again! | |