Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

From “The Songs of Bilitis”LXI. Endearments

By Pierre Louÿs (1870–1925)

(1894. Translated from the French by Horace Manchester Brown. 1904) CLOSE softly thine arms about me like a girdle. Oh, touch, touch my skin thus! Neither water, nor the breath of the south wind are softer than thy hand.	1
To-day endear me, little sister, it is thy turn. Remember thou the endearments that I taught thee last night, and kneel thou near to me who am fatigued; kneel thou in silence.	2
Thy lips descend upon my lips. All thine undone hair follows them, as a caress follows a kiss. Thy locks glide upon my left breast; they hide thine eyes.	3
Give me thy hand, it is hot! Press mine and leave it not. Hands better than lips unite, and their passion is equalled by nothing.	4