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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  Cloe’s Precaution

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

Cloe’s Precaution

Anonymous
 
(From Windsor Medley, 1731)

FORGIVE me, Venus, if I tell,
What on thy sacred Eve befel;
When happy, if forbid to boast,
Much of the Happiness is lost.
  Cloe, a Nymph of matchless Mien,        5
Who long the reigning Toast had been,
Of all the Wits, and Rakes, and Smarts,
That prowl, to prey on Virgin’s Hearts;
Yet ever to her Honour true,
Unless—what’s that?—with one or two.        10
One night as we together sat,
Passing the smiling Hours in chat,
We took a Glass—’twas pretty late.
The Nymph relaxed, her Eyes confessed,
Her Virtue scarce would stand the test.        15
Love, Wine, or both, had filled her Head,
The Spies were sent away to bed;
Spight of her Pride, the engaging she,
Avowed a Passion—and for me.
Then let’s to bed—you shan’t,—I will;        20
Don’t offer’t, for I vow I’ll squeal.
Child, if you do, ’twill be all one.
Nay, then—but keep your Breeches on;
Agreed,—’twas done as soon as said,
I in my Breeches—went to bed.        25