T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Song: There was a swain full fair
By John Gay (16851732)(From The Wife of Bath, 1713) THERE was a swain full fair, | |
Was tripping it o’er the grass, | |
And there he spied, with her nut-brown hair, | |
A pretty, tight country lass. | |
Fair damsel, says he, | 5 |
With an air brisk and free, | |
Come let us each other know; | |
She blush’d in his face, | |
And replied with a grace, | |
Pray forbear, Sir:—no, no, no, no. | 10 |
The lad being bolder grown, | |
Endeavoured to steal a kiss, | |
She cried, pish!—let me alone, | |
But held up her nose for the bliss. | |
And when he begun, | 15 |
She would never have done, | |
But unto his lips she did grow, | |
Near smothered to death, | |
As soon as she’d breath, | |
She stammer’d out, no, no, no, no. | 20 |
Come, come, says he, pretty maid, | |
Let’s walk to yon private grove, | |
Cupid always delights in the cooling shade | |
There, I’ll read thee a lesson of love. | |
She mends her pace, | 25 |
And hastes to the place, | |
But if her love-lecture you’d know; | |
Let a bashful young muse | |
Plead the maiden’s excuse, | |
And answer you,—no, no, no, no. | 30 |