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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  The Invitation

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

The Invitation

By Aphra Behn (1640–1689)
 
(From Poems, 1683)

COME, my Phillis, let us improve
Both our joys of equal love:
While we in yonder shady grove,
Count minutes by our kisses.
See the flowers how sweetly they spread,        5
And each resigns his gawdy head,
To make for us a fragrant bed,
To practice o’er new blisses.
 
The Sun itself with love does conspire,
And sends abroad his ardent fire,        10
And kindly seems to bid us retire,
And shade us from his glory;
All that your swain desires there,
Is by those eyes anew to swear
How much he does adore ye.        15
 
Phillis, in vain you shed those tears;
Why do you blush? Oh speak your fears!
There’s none but you Amyntas hears:
What means this pretty passion?
Can you fear your Favours will cloy        20
Those that the blessing does enjoy?
Ah no! such needless thoughts destroy:
This nicety’s out of fashion.
When thou hast done, by Pan I swear,
Thou wilt unto my eyes appear        25
A thousand times more charming and fair,
Then thou wert to my first desire:
That smile was kind, and now thou’rt wise,
To throw away this coy disguise,
And by the vigor of thy eyes,        30
Declare thy youth and fire.