T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Bride’s First Night
Anonymous(By “W. C.”; from Rawlinson MS., (c. 1610–20) Poet. 214, leaf 71, back) |
BEING entered, and the bed with all things set, | |
| Upon the side thereof a while they sit, | |
| When left alone, they talk and toy and smile, | |
| She, whilst she can, the time seeks to beguile, | |
| Till suddenly her cheeks are all bewept, | 5 |
| To loose so soon what she so long hath kept; | |
| And oft she castes her eyes upon the place | |
| Where she is to wrastle; and she hides her face. | |
| He with such gentle force compels the Lass, | |
| As would not break her, were she made of glass, | 10 |
| So loath he is to hurt her; yet he throws | |
| Her softly down, and to her side he grows. | |
| Venus begins to teach them a new trade, | |
| The marriage queen here plays the chamber-maid: | |
| Juno her-self, whose new affections grown, | 15 |
| And there attends to teach them Mars unknown, | |
| The whilst he seeks for babies in her eyes, | |
| Feels her white neck, and ivory breasts that rise | |
| Like two white snowy hills, and still doth praise | |
| All that he feels or touches; then thus says: | 20 |
| “O fresh and flourishing Virgin now in bride, | |
| And are you grown at length so near my side; | |
| Of all my hopes the storehouse and the treasure, | |
| My long-expected, now my greatest pleasure; | |
| My sweet and dearest love, this could not be | 25 |
| Nor happen thus, but by the gods decree; | |
| And will [you] now the power of love withstand?” | |
| At this she turns, and stays his forward hand, | |
| Trembling to think of that which was to ensue, | |
| Or prove the thing which yet she never knew; | 30 |
| Twixt hope and fear she thus replies: | |
| “O fair and lovely youth, list t’ a Virgin’s prayer! | |
| Of the ingrate, by those which gave thee such, | |
| Thy parents be, I only beg thus much: | |
| Pity my tears, put me to no affright, | 35 |
| I only crave reprieve but for this night.” | |
| With [that] she seems intranced, and prostrate lies, | |
| And since he needs must, lets him act his will: | |
| Betwixt them too, they quench love’s amorous fires, | |
| She what she fears, he what he long desires. | 40 |