T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
I Dreamed My Love
Anonymous(From The Percy Folio Manuscript, c. 1620–50) |
I DREAMED my love lay in her bed: | |
| It was my Chance to take her: | |
| Her legs and arms abroad were spread; | |
| She slept; I durst not wake her. | |
| O pity it were, that one so fair | 5 |
| Should Crown her love with willow; | |
| The tresses of her golden hair | |
| Did kiss he[r] lovely pillow. | |
| Methought her belly was a hill | |
| Much like a mount of pleasure, | 10 |
| Under whose height there grows a well; | |
| The depth no man can measure. | |
| About the plea[s]ant mountain’s top | |
| There grows a lovely thicket, | |
| Wherein two beagles trampled, | 15 |
| And raised a lively pricket. | |
| They hunted there with pleasant noise | |
| About the pleasant mountain, | |
| Till he by heat was forced to fly, | |
| And skip into the fountain. | 20 |
| The beagles followed to the brink, | |
| And there at him they barked; | |
| He plunged about, but would not shrink; | |
| His Coming forth they waited. | |
| Then forth he Came as one half lame, | 25 |
| Were weary, faint, and tired; | |
| And laid him down betwixt her legs, | |
| As help he had required. | |
| The beagles being refresht again, | |
| My Love from sleep bereaved; | 30 |
| She dreamed she had me in her arms, | |
| And she was not deceived. | |