T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Songs from The Tragedy of Valentinian
By Francis Beaumont (15841616) and John Fletcher (15791625)(From Act II. Scene IV.) NOW the lusty spring is seen;I. | |
Golden yellow, gaudy blue, | |
Daintily invite the view. | |
Every where, on every green, | |
Roses blushing as they blow, | 5 |
And enticing men to pull; | |
Lilies whiter than the snow, | |
Woodbines of sweet honey full: | |
All love’s emblems, and all cry, | |
“Ladies, if not pluck’d, we die.” | 10 |
Yet the lusty spring hath staid; | |
Blushing red, and purest white, | |
Daintily to love invite | |
Every woman, every maid, | |
Cherries kissing as they grow, | 15 |
And inviting men to taste; | |
Apples even ripe below. | |
Winding gently to the waist: | |
All love’s emblems, and all cry, | |
“Ladies, if not pluck’d, we die.” | 20 |
II. HEAR ye, ladies that despise | |
What the mighty Love has done; | |
Fear examples, and be wise: | |
Fair Calisto was a nun; | |
Leda, sailing on the stream | 25 |
To deceive the hopes of man, | |
Love accounting but a dream, | |
Doted on a silver swan; | |
Danae in a brazen tower, | |
Where no love was, loved a shower. | 30 |
Hear ye, ladies that are coy, | |
What the mighty Love can do; | |
Fear the fierceness of the boy: | |
The chaste moon he makes to woo; | |
Vesta kindling holy fires, | 35 |
Circled round about with spies, | |
Never dreaming loose desires, | |
Doting at the altar dies; | |
Ilion in a short hour higher | |
He can build, and once more fire. | 40 |