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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  A Song: “After the fiercest pangs of hot desire”

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

A Song: “After the fiercest pangs of hot desire”

By Richard Duke (1658–1711)
 
(From Miscellany Poems, 1707)

AFTER the fiercest pangs of hot desire,
  Between Panthea’s rising breasts,
  His bending breast Philander rests:
Though vanquished, yet unknowing to retire,
Close hugs the charmer, and ashamed to yield,        5
Tho’ he has lost the day, yet keeps the field.
 
When with a sigh the fair Panthea said,
  “What pity ’tis, ye Gods, that all
  The noblest warriors soonest fall!”
Then with a kiss he gently reared his head,        10
Armed him again to fight, for nobly she
More loved the combat than the victory.
 
But more enraged, for being beat before,
  With all his strength he does prepare
  More fiercely to renew the war;        15
Nor ceased he till the noble prize he bore:
Ev’n her much wondrous courage did surprise,
She hugs the dart that wounded her, and dies.