T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Penance
By Nahum Tate (16521715)NYMPH FANARET, the gentlest maid | |
That ever happy swain obeyed, | |
(For what offence I cannot say) | |
A day and night, and half a day, | |
Banished her shepherd from her sight: | 5 |
His fault for certain was not slight, | |
Or sure this tender judge had ne’er | |
Imposed a penance so severe. | |
And lest she should anon revoke | |
What in her warmer rage she spoke, | 10 |
She bound the sentence with an oath, | |
Protested by her Faith and Troth, | |
Nought should compound for his offence | |
But the full time of abstinence. | |
Yet when his penance-glass were run, | 15 |
His hours of castigation done, | |
Should he defer one moment’s space | |
To come and be restored to grace, | |
With sparkling threat’ning eyes she swore | |
That failing would incense her more | 20 |
Than all his trespasses before. | |