dots-menu
×

Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  The Honeymoon

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