T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Love Song
Anonymous(From The Triumphs of the Prince d’Amour, 1635) |
UNARM, unarm! no more your fights | |
Must cause the virgins tears, | |
But such as in the silent nights | |
Spring rather from their fears. | |
“Such diff’rence as when doves do bill | 5 |
Must now be all your strife; | |
For all the blood that you shall spill | |
Will usher in a life. | |
“And when your ladies, falsely coy, | |
Shall timorous appear, | 10 |
Believe they then would fain enjoy | |
What they pretend to fear. | |
“Breathe then each other’s breath, and kiss | |
Your souls to union; | |
And whilst they shall enjoy this bliss, | 15 |
Your bodies, too, are one. | |
“To-morrow will the hasty sun | |
Be feared more of each lover | |
For hind’ring to repeat what’s done | |
Than what it may discover.” | 20 |