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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  The Disappointed Maid and Drowsy Swain

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

The Disappointed Maid and Drowsy Swain

By William Pattison (1706–1727)
 
(From Poetical Works, 1728)

AS Dolly and her favourite Swain
Were interrupted by the rain,
From tedding out the fragrant hay;
Beneath a sheltering cock they lay:
When thus the lovely, longing jade,        5
Unto the drowsy shepherd said,
Nay, prithee Lobby, why so sleepy?
Indeed, upon my word I’ll nip ye.—
How pretty might we sit and chat,
Tell o’er old stories, and all that.—        10
But you—O Lord, the careless beast!
As if folks lie down to take rest.
Lab, half asleep, made no replies,
Or answered with a grunt her sighs.
While she to be revenged, arose,        15
And played a tickler on his nose.
(But come, the virgin to disgrace,
Will say, ’twas in another place.)
Be that—as ’twill, she waked the swain,
And tickled him with words again.        20
Come sweeting, Lobby, come, my dear,
I’m sure that nobody is near;
Indeed we may, pray be’n’t afraid,
Poor I am, but an harmless maid.
For since you’re so disposed to rest,        25
Pray take a nap upon my breast.
You see time, leisure, place, and all,
For such enjoyment seem to call.
And you remember people say,
When the sun shines, then make your hay.        30
Augh! aught! quoth Lob, waked with surprise,
To see the sun flame in his eyes.
Heigh Hoa! come Doll, for as you say,
The sun shines, we must make our hay:
So reach me there my rake and prong,        35
’Twas well you waked—we’ve slept too long.