T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Phryne
By Alexander Pope (16881744)PHRYNE had talents for mankind; | |
Open she was and unconfin’d, | |
Like some free port of trade: | |
Merchants unloaded here their freight, | |
And agents from each foreign state | 5 |
Here first their entry made. | |
Her learning and good breeding such, | |
Whether th’ Italian or the Dutch; | |
Spaniards or French, came to her, | |
To all obliging she’d appear; | 10 |
’T was Si Signior, ’t was Yaw Mynheer, | |
’T was S’il vous plait, Monsieur. | |
Obscure by birth, renown’d by crimes, | |
Still changing names, religions, climes, | |
At length she turns a bride; | 15 |
In diamonds, pearls, and rich brocades, | |
She shines the first of batter’d jades, | |
And flutters in her pride. | |
So have I known those insects fair | |
(Which curious Germans hold so rare) | 20 |
Still vary shapes and dyes; | |
Still gain new titles with new forms; | |
First grubs obscene, then wriggling worms, | |
Then painted butterflies. | |