T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Power of Love
Anonymous(From The Musical Miscellany, c. 1729) |
AT dead of Night, when wrapt in Sleep | |
| The peaceful Cottage lay, | |
| Pastora left her folded Sheep, | |
| Her Garland, Crook, and useless Scrip; | |
| Love led the Nymph a-stray. | 5 |
| His eager Arms the Nymph embrace, | |
| And, so assuage his Pain, | |
| His restless Passion he obeys: | |
| At such an Hour, in such a Place, | |
| What Lover could contain? | 10 |
| In vain she call’d the conscious Moon, | |
| The Moon no Succour gave: | |
| The cruel Stars unmoved, looked on, | |
| And seemed to smile at what was done, | |
| Nor would her Honour save. | 15 |
| Vanquished at last, by powerful Love, | |
| The Nymph expiring lay; | |
| No more she sighed, no more she strove, | |
| Since no kind Stars were found above, | |
| She blushed and died away. | 20 |
| Yet blest the Grove, her conscious Flight, | |
| And Youth, that did betray; | |
| And panting, dying with Delight, | |
| She blest the kind transporting Night, | |
| And cursed approaching Day. | 25 |