T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Dialogue between a Town Spark and His Miss
Anonymous(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719) |
She. | Did you not promise me when you lay by me, | |
That you would marry me; can you deny me? | ||
He. | If I did promise thee, ’twas but to try thee, | |
Call up your Witnesses, else I defie thee. | ||
She. | Ah, who would trust you men that swear and vow so, | 5 |
Born only to deceive, how can you do so? | ||
He. | If we can swear and lie, you can dissemble, | |
And then to hear the Lie, would make one tremble. | ||
She. | Had I not loved, you had found a Denial, | |
My tender Heart, alas, was but too real; | 10 | |
He. | Real I know you were, I’ve often tried ye, | |
Real to forty more Lovers beside me. | ||
She. | If thousands lov’d me, where was my transgression, | |
You were the only He, e’er got Possession? | ||
He. | Thou could’st talk prettily, e’er thou could’st go, Child: | 15 |
But I’m too old and wise to be shamed so, Child. | ||
She. | Tho’ y’are so cruel you’ll never believe me, | |
You do but take the Child, all I forgive thee. | ||
He. | Send your Kid home to me, I will take care on’t, | |
If’t has the Mother’s Gifts, ’twill prove a rare one. | 20 | |