T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Maria
Anonymous(From Songs, Comic, and Satyrical, by George Alexander Stevens, 1782) |
ONE day, by appointment, Maria I met, | |
That day of delight I remember it yet; | |
As the meadow we cross’d to avoid the town’s crowd, | |
The sun seem’d eclips’d by a black spreading cloud: | |
Escaping the shower, to barn we fast fled, | 5 |
There safe heard the pattering rain overhead. | |
Some moments I suffer’d my fair to take breath, | |
Then, sighing, she cry’d, “Lord! I’m frighted to death; | |
Suppose, now, by any one I should be seen?” | |
“Nay, nay, now,—nay, pray now—dear—what do you mean?” | 10 |
“Had I thought you’d be half so rude—fie! for shame! | |
I wish I’d been wet to the skin e’er I came. | |
“You will have a kiss, then!—why, take one or two! | |
I beg you won’t tease me!—Lord! what wou’d you do? | |
You’ll tear all one’s things—I ne’er saw such a man! | 15 |
I will hold both your hands!—Aye, do if you can: | |
Is this your love for me?—Is this all you care? | |
I’ll never come near you again,—now, I swear!” | |
As she push’d me away, love explain’d by her eyes, | |
Resistance was only to heighten the prize; | 20 |
Her face chang’d, alternate, from scarlet to snow, | |
Her neck rose and fell fast, her language was low: | |
Such beauty! but more of that scene was not shown— | |
For decency here bid her curtain drop down. | |
The storm being over, all sunshine the air, | 25 |
When instant rose up, the yet love-looking fair, | |
Crying, hark! there’s one listens—do look out, my dear, | |
I must be bewitch’d, I am sure, to come here. | |
My things how they’re rumpled!—Lord, let me begone; | |
What have you been doing? and what have I done? | 30 |
Into this fatal place, I most solemnly vow, | |
I innocent enter’d—but am I so now? | |
I’m ruin’d,—I never myself can forgive— | |
I’ll leap in the brook,—for I’m sure I can’t live!— | |
If I do, my whole life will be wasted in grief, | 35 |
Unless here tomorrow you’ll give me relief. | |