T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Silent Flute
Anonymous(1720; broadside song with music: in Musical Miscellany, 1729) |
AS Damon late with Cloe sat, | |
They talked of am’rous Blisses; | |
Kind things he said, which she repaid, | |
In pleasing Smiles and Kisses | |
With tuneful Tongue of Love he sung; | 5 |
She thanked him for his Ditty, | |
But said one Day she heard him say, | |
The Flute was mighty pretty. | |
Young Damon, who her Meaning knew, | |
Took out his Pipe to charm her; | 10 |
And while he strove, with wanton Love, | |
And sprightly Airs, to warm her; | |
She begged the Swain to play one Strain, | |
In all the softest Measure, | |
Whose Killing Sound would sweetly wound, | 15 |
And make her die with Pleasure. | |
Eager to do’t, he takes the Flute, | |
And ev’ry Accent traces, | |
Love trickling thro’ his Fingers flew, | |
And whispered melting Graces: | 20 |
He did his Part with wond’rous Art, | |
Expecting Praises after; | |
But she instead of falling dead, | |
Burst out into a Laughter. | |
Taking the Hint, as Cloe meant, | 25 |
Said he, My Dear, be easy; | |
I have a Flute, which, tho’ ’tis mute, | |
May play a Tune to please ye: | |
Then down he laid the charming Maid, | |
He found her kind and willing; | 30 |
He played again, and tho’ each Strain | |
Was silent, yet ’twas Killing. | |
Fair Cloe soon approved the Tune, | |
And vowed he played divinely; | |
Let’s have it o’er, said she, once more, | 35 |
It goes exceeding finely: | |
The Flute is good, that’s made of Wood, | |
And is, I own, the neatest; | |
Yet ne’ertheless, I must confess, | |
The silent Flute’s the sweetest. | 40 |