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Home  »  A Book of Women’s Verse  »  Song: “You wrong me, Strephon, when you say”

J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921.

By ‘Ephelia’ (17th Cent.?)

Song: “You wrong me, Strephon, when you say”

YOU wrong me, Strephon, when you say,

I’m jealous or severe,

Did I not see you kiss and play

With all you came a-near?

Say, did I ever chide for this,

Or cast one jealous eye

On the bold nymphs, that snatch’d my bliss

While I stood wishing by.

Yet though I never disapproved

This modish liberty,

I thought in them you only loved

Change and variety:

I vainly thought my charms so strong,

And you so much my slave,

No nymph had power to do me wrong,

Or break the chains I gave.

But when you seriously address

With all your winning charms,

Unto a servile shepherdess,

I’ll throw you from my arms:

I’d rather choose you should make love

To every face you see,

Than Mopsa’s dull admirer prove,

And let her rival me.