T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Honeymoon
Anonymous(From The Festival of Love, 1789) COME, Cytherea, with thy doves, | |
And all thy train of little loves, | |
Come from Idalia’s pleasing shade, | |
For joy and amorous frolics made; | |
Come, and assist an artless tune | 5 |
Which strives to warble forth the Honey-moon. | |
When Hymen does the pair unite, | |
And promises supreme delight; | |
With sparkling torch comes bright to view, | |
And points at raptures great and new: | 10 |
What pleasure is expected soon! | |
Then, then! comes on the pleasing Honey-moon. | |
Cynthia, the virgin goddess bright, | |
With greater speed rides down the night; | |
Her modesty betrays her heart, | 15 |
Shows in such sports she’d take a part; | |
But that her wish she dares not own | |
Or Jove with her would have an Honey-moon. | |
“An Honey-moon!” cries simpering miss, | |
“I wonder much what’s meant by this! | 20 |
I have all sweets quite near me, handy, | |
Is Honey-moon like sugar-candy?” | |
The joyful time will tell you soon, | |
When you will bless the Honey-moon. | |
Ah! then those sweets, unknown before, | 25 |
Will make you long, dear miss, for more; | |
Will make you lick your lips, and cry | |
“Till now, O what a fool was I! | |
What pleasing touches!—what a tune | |
Can e’er be played that’s like a Honey-moon?” | 30 |
Could but the virgin in her teens, | |
Tell what the joys of wedlock means; | |
She would not long the bliss delay, | |
But with the first dear youth away; | |
On Venus’ bed would tumble down, | 35 |
And there prolong the Honey-moon. | |
When heaving breasts delightful rise, | |
And pant with soft ecstatic sighs! | |
When folding arms fond arms embrace, | |
And love seems furious for the chase; | 40 |
Unnumbered joys the pair must crown, | |
Who then begin the pleasing Honey-moon. | |
Ah! then encounter breast with breast, | |
And tenderest accents are expressed; | |
“My love, I melt! I burn! I burst!” | 45 |
The next is better than the first; | |
And so progressive they go on, | |
To make a heaven of their Honey-moon. | |
Then all the youthful poet’s dream, | |
Beneath the shade, or by the stream, | 50 |
Is realized, and certain found, | |
Beyond imagination’s bound; | |
All that can please is felt, or shown | |
During the happy time of Honey-moon. | |
Then haste, ye youths, and haste ye fair, | 55 |
Love’s banquet of delight to share; | |
Advance to Hymen’s sacred fane, | |
A rich reward you’ll surely gain; | |
Each rapture will attend you soon, | |
And give you all the joys of Honey-moon. | 60 |