T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Nameless Maiden
Anonymous(c. 1800) A MAID, I dare not tell her name; | |
For fear I should disgrace her, | |
Tempted a young man for to come | |
One night for to embrace her. | |
When at the door he made a stop, he made a stop, | 5 |
Then she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | |
“The latch will up, the latch will up.” | |
This young man, hearing of her words, | |
Pull’d up the latch and entered; | |
But in the room unfortunately | 10 |
To her mother’s bed he ventured. | |
When the poor maid was sore afraid, | |
And almost dead, and almost dead; | |
Then she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | |
“To the truckle bed, to the truckle bed.” | 15 |
Unto the truckle bed he went, | |
But as this youth was a-going, | |
The unlucky cradle stood in his way, | |
Which had almost spoil’d his wooing. | |
When after this the maid he spy’d, the maid he spy’d, | 20 |
Here she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | |
“To th’other side, to th’other side.” | |
Unto the other side he went, | |
To show the love he meant her; | |
Pulled off his clothes courageously, | 25 |
And fell to the work he was sent for. | |
When the poor maid made no reply, made no reply, | |
But she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | |
“A little too high, a little too high.” | |
This lusty lover half ashamed, | 30 |
Of her gentle admonition, | |
He thought to charge her home again, | |
As e’er a girl could wish him. | |
“Why now my love, I’m right I know, I’m right I know,” | |
Then she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | 35 |
“A little too low, a little too low.” | |
But by mistake, at length this youth | |
His business so well ’tended, | |
He hit the mark so cunningly, | |
He defy’d all the world to mend it. | 40 |
“Well now, my love, I’m right I swear, I’m right I swear.” | |
Then she lay still, and snoring cry’d, | |
“Oh there! just there! Oh there! just there!” | |