T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Beneath a Cool Shade
By Aphra Behn (16401689)(1697) BENEATH a cool shade, where some here have been, | |
Convenient for Lovers, most pleasant and green, | |
Alexis and Cloris lay pressing soft Flowers, | |
With Kissing and Loving they past the dull hours. | |
She close in his Arms with her head on his breast, | 5 |
And fainting with pleasure; you guess at the rest: | |
She blusht and she sigh’d with a Joy beyond measure, | |
All ravisht with Billing and dying with Pleasure. | |
But while thus in Transports extended they lay, | |
A Handsome young Shepherd was passing that way. | 10 |
She saw him and cry’d … oh, Alexis, betray’d! | |
Oh what have you done … you have ruin’d a Maid; | |
But the Shepherd, being modest, discreetly past by, | |
And left ’em again at their leisure to die. | |
And often they Languish’d with Joy beyond measure, | 15 |
All Ravished with Billing and dying with Pleasure. | |