Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

The Wooing

Mediæval Latin Student’s Songs

(From Wine, Women and Song. Translated by John Addington Symonds)

	ALL the woods are now in flower,
	Song-birds sing in field and bower,
	Orchards their white blossoms shower:
	Lads, make merry in Love’s hour!
	Sordid grief hath flown away,	5
	Fervid Love is here to-day;
	He will tame without delay
	Those who love not while they may.
HE.	“Fairest maiden, list to me;
	Do not thus disdainful be;	10
	Scorn and anger disagree
	With thy youth, and injure thee.
	I am weaker than thou art;
	Mighty Love hath pierced my heart;
	Scarce can I endure his dart:	15
	Lest I die, heal, heal my smart!”
SHE.	“Why d’you coax me, suitor blind?
	What you seek you will not find;
	I’m too young for love to bind;
	Such vain trifles vex my mind.	20
	Is’t your will with me to toy?
	I’ll not mate with man or boy:
	Like the Phœnix, to enjoy
	Single life shall be my joy.”
HE.	“Yet Love is tyrannous,	25
	Harsh, fierce, imperious!
	He who man’s heart can thus
	Shatter, may make to bow
	Maidens as stern as thou!”
SHE.	“Now by your words I’m ’ware	30
	What you wish, what you are;
	You know love well, I swear!
	So I’ll be loved by you;
	Now I’m on fire too?”