T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Resolution
Anonymous(From Rawlinson MS., Poet. 94) NAY, Silvia, now you’re cruel grown; | |
I’ll swear you most unjustly frown. | |
I only asked (in vain) to taste | |
What you denied with mighty haste; | |
I asked—but I’m ashamed to tell | 5 |
What ’twas you took so wondrous ill— | |
A kiss. But with a coy disdain | |
You view’d my sighings and my pain: | |
’Twas but a civil small request, | |
Yet with proud looks and hand on breast, | 10 |
You cried “I’m not so eager to be kiss’d.” | |
But case that I had loosed your gown, | |
And then by force had laid you down, | |
And with unruly hands had teased you,— | |
Too justly then I had displeased you. | 15 |
Or had I (big with wanton joys) | |
Engaged you for a brace of boys, | |
Then basely left you full of nature,— | |
This would have been provoking matter. | |
But I, poor harmless civil I, | 20 |
Begg’d for the meanest coolest joy, | |
And saw denial in your eye; | |
For with a squeamish glance you cried, | |
“I hate the nauseous bliss.” | |
“’Tis well,” said I; “since I’m denied, | 25 |
For rocks of diamonds I’ll not kiss.” | |