T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Pipe of Love
Anonymous(From Songs, Comic, and Satyrical, by George Alexander Stevens, 1782) |
ONE primrose time, a maiden brown, | |
Wishing for what we will not say, | |
By side of shepherd sat her down, | |
And softly ask’d him, would he play? | |
Mild shone the sun through red-streak morn, | 5 |
And glist’ning dew-drops pearled the grass; | |
The rustic, stretched beneath the thorn, | |
Grinning, reply’d—I’ll please thee, Lass. | |
All on the green field’s turfy bed, | |
Smiling, the fond one fell along; | 10 |
The thick-leaf shade her face o’erspread. | |
While, lisping, she began this song:— | |
“’Tis love which gives life holidays, | |
And Love, I’ll always take thy part; | |
My shepherd’s pipe so sweetly plays, | 15 |
It finds the way to win my heart. | |
“The ladies dress’d with silks so fine, | |
In golden chairs to visits go; | |
On costly dishes they can dine, | |
And ev’ry night see ev’ry show; | 20 |
Yet, if ’tis true what some folks speak, | |
Those ladies lead but lonely lives; | |
Husbands are wilful, husbands weak, | |
And seldom pipe to please their wives.” | |
Blue broke the clouds, the day yet young, | 25 |
The flowers fragrant fill’d the breeze; | |
Wanton the lass, half whisp’ring, sung, | |
Yes, shepherd,—once more if you please. | |
Awaking from embrac’d delight, | |
She heard her dame, and dar’d not stay; | 30 |
They kiss, they part, but first—at night, | |
She charg’d him, come again and play. | |
His team to geer, home hy’d the loon, | |
The love-cheer’d lass blithe bore her pail, | |
And thus she gave her ditty tune, | 35 |
Tripping it deftly down the dale; | |
“Tho’ organ pipes play music fine, | |
And fountain-pipes folks run to see; | |
Tho’ thirsty souls love pipes of wine, | |
The pipe of love’s the pipe for me.” | 40 |