T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
An Ode to Lord Lincoln
By Sir Charles Hanbury Williams (17081759)(1744) O LINCOLN! joy of womankind! | |
To you this humble ode’s designed: | |
Let —— inspire my song: | |
Gods! with what powers are you endu’d! | |
Tiberius was not half so lewd, | 5 |
Nor Hercules so strong. | |
’Tis —— now my pen employs, | |
And since I sing of heav’nly joys, | |
From heaven my notes I’ll bring; | |
And tho’ the lyric strain I chuse, | 10 |
I’ll open like the Mantuan muse— | |
“——, and the man I sing.” | |
But don’t expect much flattery | |
From such an honest bard as me, | |
Dear, noble, vigorous youth; | 15 |
For when I say that you —— more | |
Than ever mortal did before, | |
You know I say the truth. | |
Four times a night, some happy fair, | |
You —— throughout the gliding year, | 20 |
This course of joy pursuing; | |
Of feats like these what annals speak, | |
’Tis eight and twenty times a week, | |
And, Faith! that’s glorious doing. | |
Had Messalina —— with you, | 25 |
Whom no then man could e’er subdue, | |
Tho’ many a Roman tried: | |
She’d own your vigor and your charms, | |
And, melting, dying in your arms, | |
Cry’d out —— “I’m satisfied!” | 30 |
Then still love on with loosen’d reins, | |
While youth is boiling in your veins, | |
And sparkles in your face; | |
With w—— be lewd, with Whigs be hearty, | |
And both in ——, and in party, | 35 |
Confess your noble race. | |
To you and steady Pelham then, | |
With joy I’ll dedicate my pen, | |
For both shall be my theme; | |
Since both divided England share, | 40 |
You have the love of every fair, | |
He every man’s esteem. | |