dots-menu
×

Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  The Morn

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

The Morn

By Philip Ayres (1638–1712)
 
(Lyric Poems, made in imitation of the Italians, 1687)

WHEN light begins the eastern heaven to grace,
And the night’s torches to the sun give place,
Diana leaves her shepherd to his sleep,
Grieved that her horns cannot their lustre keep.
 
The boughs on which the wanton birds do throng,        5
Dance to the music of their chirping song,
Whilst they rejoice the dusky clouds are fled,
And bright Aurora rises from her bed.
 
Then fools and flatterers to courts resort,
Lovers of game up and pursue their sport;        10
With last night’s sleep refreshed, the lab’ring swain
Cheerfully settles to his work again.
 
Pleased Hob unfolds his flocks, and, whilst they feed,
Sits and makes music on his oaten reed:
Then I wake too, and viewing Lesbia’s charms,        15
Do glut myself with pleasure in her arms.