T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Loves Fancy
By John Dryden (16311700)(From An Evening’s Love, 1671) AFTER the pangs of a desperate Lover, | |
When a day and night I have sighed all in vain, | |
Ah what a pleasure it is to discover, | |
In her eyes pity who causes my pain! | |
When with unkindness our Love at a stand is, | 5 |
And both have punish’d our selves with the pain, | |
Ah what a pleasure the touch of her hand is! | |
Ah what a pleasure to touch it again! | |
When the denial comes fainter and fainter, | |
And her eyes gives what her tongue does deny, | 10 |
Ah what a trembling I feel when I venture, | |
Ah what a trembling does usher my Joy! | |
When, with a Sigh, she accords me the blessing | |
And her eyes twinkle ’twixt pleasure and pain, | |
Ah, what a Joy ’tis beyond all expressing! | 15 |
Ah, what a Joy to hear, Shall we again! | |