T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Song from Miscellany Poems
By John Dryden (16311700)(1685) SYLVIA the fair, in the bloom of Fifteen | |
Felt an innocent warmth, as she lay on the green; | |
She had heard of a pleasure, and something she guessed | |
By the towzing and tumbling and touching her Breast: | |
She saw the men eager, but was at a loss, | 5 |
What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
By their praying and whining, | |
And clasping and twining, | |
And panting and wishing, | |
And sighing and kissing, | 10 |
And sighing and kissing so close. | |
Ah! she cry’d, ah! for a languishing maid | |
In a country of Christians to die without aid! | |
Not a Whig, or a Tory, or Trimmer at least, | |
Or a Protestant parson or Catholic priest, | 15 |
To instruct a young virgin that is at a loss | |
What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
By their praying and whining, | |
And clasping and twining, | |
And panting and wishing, | 20 |
And sighing and kissing, | |
And sighing and kissing so close. | |
Cupid in shape of a swain did appear, | |
He saw the sad wound, and in pity drew near, | |
Then show’d her his Arrow, and bid her not fear, | 25 |
For the pain was no more than a maiden may bear; | |
When the balm was infus’d, she was not at a loss | |
What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
By their praying and whining, | |
And clasping and twining, | 30 |
And panting and wishing, | |
And sighing and kissing, | |
And sighing and kissing so close. | |