T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Cupids Victory over the Virgins Hearts
Anonymous(Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 64; c. 1701)
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WHERE’S my Shepherd (my love) hey-ho, | |
On yonder Mountain amidst the Snow; | |
I dearly love him I vow, and now | |
Will follow, and merrily to him go: | |
My young Shepherd has Beauty and Charms, | 5 |
And I long to find him in my arms, | |
I long for Night to Embrace him a Bed, | |
And I long to give him my Maiden-head. | |
Soft and sweet are the joys of Love, | |
Which every Virgin does long to prove, | 10 |
I will not tarry, but Marry, | |
and every Rival will soon remove: | |
Bonny Susan does muse on all night, | |
Upon all our joys and sweet delight, | |
She dreams of Kisses, Embraces, and charms, | 15 |
And she starts and thinks my love in her arms. | |
Sweetly looks the fair Bride in Bed, | |
With thousand Cupids all round her head, | |
She softly sighs, and wishes, and kisses, | |
as soon as the Curtains are closely spread: | 20 |
Every Bridegroom does then what he please, | |
And the lovely Brides their flames appease, | |
I need not name what young Lovers do do, | |
For ’tis known to every one, I and to you. | |
Mark how kindly she looks next day, | 25 |
More lively, lovely, more brisk and gay; | |
’Twould make maids long to be cooing and wooing, | |
to see how these wantons do sport and play: | |
Some new charm in his looks she espies, | |
And then he looks Babies in her eyes; | 30 |
Then, while her fondling new pleasures does seek, | |
She kindly kisses and claps his cheek. | |
Vain it is to be nice and coy, | |
And let old Time all our youth destroy, | |
I like not Whining and pining, | 35 |
for that which one easily mightly enjoy: | |
There are bonny, brisk lovers in store, | |
And then what can Maidens wish for more, | |
What need has Susan to sigh and look pale, | |
When she might o’er Thomas’s heart prevail. | 40 |
Have not Women soft charms and Arts, | |
By Nature given to conquer hearts, | |
Which never does fail, but prevail, | |
as often as ever they shoot their Darts; | |
No brisk youth can withstand a Maid’s charms, | 45 |
But does strangely soften in her Arms; | |
The Roughest Hero in all the bright field, | |
To a brighter Beauty will bow and yield. | |
Now, young buxom fair Maids, come here, | |
And learn this lesson—(to Love give ear), | 50 |
The little Boy is so pretty and witty, | |
and pleasant and soft, that you need not fear; | |
Roger he shall have Cisley and Nan, | |
And young Kate shall kiss my Ladies’ Man, | |
Doll shall have William, and John shall have Joan, | 55 |
And thus neither Sex shall lie alone. | |