T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Come, Wanton Wenches
Anonymous(From The Percy Folio Manuscript, 1620–50, page 404 of MS.) |
COME all you wanton wenches | |
That longs to be in trading, | |
Come learn of me, loves Mistress | |
To keep your selves from Jadeing! | |
When you expose your faces, | 5 |
All baites for to entrap men, | |
Then have a care to husband your ware, | |
That you prove not bankrout chapmen, | |
Be not at first too nice nor coy | |
When gamesters you are courting, | 10 |
Nor forward to be sporting; | |
In speeches free, not in action be, | |
For fear of less resorting. | |
Let not your outward gesture | |
Betray your inward passion; | 15 |
But seem to neglect, when most you do affect, | |
In a cunning scornful fashion. | |
Be sparing of your favors | |
When men’s love grow most eager; | |
Yet keep good guard, or else all is marred. | 20 |
When they your fort beleagar; | |
Grant but a touch or a kiss for a taste, | |
And seem not to be willing | |
Always for to be billing. | |
With a touch or a pinch, or a nip or a wrench, | 25 |
Disappoint their hopes fulfilling. | |
If once you grow too lavish, | |
And all your wealth discover, | |
You cast off hope; for then with too much scope | |
You do dull your Eager lover. | 30 |
Then order so your treasure, | |
And so dispend your store, | |
That tho’ men do taste, their loves may never waste, | |
But they still may hope for more. | |
And if by chance, being wrapt in a trance, | 35 |
You yield them full fruition | |
Won by strong opposition, | |
Yet nip and tear, and with pouting swear | |
’Twas against your disposition. | |
Thus seeming much displeased | 40 |
With that did most content, | |
You whet desire, and daily add fire | |
To a spirit almost spent. | |
Be sure at the next encounter | |
You put your love to strive; | 45 |
Yet be not rude, if need he will intrude, | |
So shall your trading thrive, | |
So shall you still be freshly wooed, | |
Like to a perfect maid. | |
And do as I have said, | 50 |
Your faining seems true, | |
And like Venus ever new, | |
And your trading is not betrayed. | |