T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Forward Love
By Sir Charles Sedley (16391701)(Works, 1722) TUSH! never tell me I’m too young | |
For loving, or too green; | |
She stays at least seven Years too long, | |
That’s wedded at Eighteen. | |
Lambs bring forth Lambs, and Doves bring Doves, | 5 |
As soon they’ve begotten: | |
Then why should ladies linger Loves, | |
As if not ripe till rotten? | |
Grey Hairs are fitter for the Grave | |
Than for the bridal Bed, | 10 |
What Pleasure can a Lover have | |
In a withered Maidenhead? | |
Nature’s exalted in our Time, | |
And what our Grandames then | |
At Four and Twenty scarce could climb, | 15 |
We can arrive at Ten. | |