T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Do You Mean
Anonymous(From The Percy Folio Manuscript, c. 1620–50) |
DO you mean to overthrow me? | |
Out, alas! I am betrayed! | |
What! is this the love you show me? | |
To undo a silly Maid. | |
Alas! I die! my heart doth break! | 5 |
I dare not cry, I cannot speak! | |
What! all alone? nay then I find | |
Men are too strong for women kind. | |
Out upon the maid that put me | |
In this room to be alone! | 10 |
Yet she was no fool to shut me | |
Where I should be seen of None. | |
Hark! Hark! alack! what Noise is that? | |
O, now I see it is the Cat. | |
Come gentle puss, thou wilt not tell; | 15 |
If all do so thou shalt not tell. | |
Silly fool! why doubts thou telling | |
Where thou didst not doubt to trust? | |
If thy belly fall a swelling, | |
There’s no help, but out it must. | 20 |
Alas the spite! alas the shame! | |
For then I quite loose my good name; | |
But yet the worst of Maids disgraced, | |
I am not first nor shall be last. | |
Once again to try your forces, | 25 |
Thus I dare thee to the field; | |
Time is lost that time divorces | |
From the pleasures love doth yield. | |
Ah ha! fye, fye! it comes yet still! | |
It comes, I, I! do what you will! | 30 |
My breath doth pass, my blood doth trickle? | |
Was ever lass in such a pickle? | |