T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Beneath a Myrtle Shade
By John Dryden (1631–1700)(From The Conquest of Granada, 1671) BENEATH a Myrtle shade, | |
| Which Love for none but happy Lovers made, | |
| I slept, and straight my Love before me brought | |
| Phillis, the object of my waking thought; | |
| Undressed she came, my flames to meet, | 5 |
| While Love strow’d flowers beneath her feet: | |
| Flowers, which so press’d by her, became more sweet. | |
| From the bright Vision’s head | |
| A careless Veil of Lawn was loosely spread: | |
| From her white Temples fell her shady hair, | 10 |
| Like cloudy sun-shine, not too brown nor fair, | |
| Her hands, her lips did love inspire, | |
| Her every Grace my heart did fire, | |
| But most her eyes, which languish with desire. | |
| Ah charming Fair, said I, | 15 |
| How long can you my bliss and yours deny? | |
| By nature and by Love this lonely shade | |
| Was for revenge of suffering Lovers made: | |
| Silence and shades with Love agree: | |
| Both shelter you and favour me; | 20 |
| You cannot blush, because I cannot see. | |
| No, let me die, she said, | |
| Rather than lose the spotless name of Maid. | |
| Faintly methought she spoke; for all the while | |
| She bid me not believe her, with a smile. | 25 |
| Then die, said I: She still denied, | |
| And is it thus, thus she cry’d. | |
| You use a harmless Maid, and so she died. | |
| I wak’d, and straight I knew | |
| I loved so well, it made my dream prove true. | 30 |
| Fancy the kinder Mistress of the two, | |
| Fancy had done what Phillis would not do. | |
| Ah, cruel Nymph, cease your disdain, | |
| Whilst I can dream you scorn in vain, | |
| Asleep or waking, you must ease my pain. | 35 |