T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Pleasing Constraint
By Aristaenetus (fl. 5th or 6th Century A.D.)(Love Epistles, II; translated by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and Nathaniel Brassey Halhed) |
IN a snug little court as I stood t’ other day, | |
And caroll’d the loitering minutes away; | |
Came a brace of fair nymphs, with such beautiful faces, | |
That they yielded in number alone to the Graces: | |
Disputing they were, and that earnestly too, | 5 |
When thus they address’d me as nearer they drew: | |
“So sweet is your voice, and your numbers so sweet, | |
Such sentiment join’d with such harmony meet; | |
Each note which you raise finds its way to our hearts, | |
Where Cupid engraves it wi’ the point of his darts: | 10 |
But oh! by these strains, which so deeply can pierce, | |
Inform us for whom you intended your verse: | |
’Tis for her, she affirms—I maintain ’tis for me— | |
And we often pull caps in asserting our plea.” | |
“Why, ladies,” cried I, “you’re both handsome, ’tis true, | 15 |
But cease your dispute, I love neither of you; | |
My life on another dear creature depends; | |
Her I hasten to visit:—so kiss and be friends.” | |
“Oh ho!” said they, “now you convince us quite clear, | |
For no pretty woman lives anywhere here— | 20 |
That’s plainly a sham. Now, to humour us both, | |
You shall swear you love neither; so come, take your oath.” | |
I laughingly replied, “’Tis tyrannical dealing | |
To make a man swear, when ’tis plain he’s not willing.” | |
“Why, friend, we’ve long sought thy fair person to seize; | 25 |
And think you we’ll take such excuses as these? | |
No, ’twas chance brought you hither, and here you shall stay;— | |
Help, Phædra! to hold, or he’ll sure get away.” | |
Thus spoken, to keep me between ’em they tried; | |
’Twas a pleasing constraint, and I gladly complied. | 30 |
If I struggled, ’twas to make ’em imprison me more, | |
And strove—but for shackles more tight than before; | |
But think not I’ll tell how the minutes were spent; | |
You may think what you please—but they both were content. | |