T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
To Celia
By George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (1628–1687)(Misc. Works, 1729) GIVE Celia but to me alone | |
| Ten thousand kisses all in one; | |
| Let me not such from thee receive | |
| As daughters to their fathers give, | |
| Or as the sister to her brother, | 5 |
| Or the young fondling to her mother, | |
| But such as by the panting bride. | |
| Now lying at her husband’s side; | |
| (The fort but once or twice assayed, | |
| Not fully gained, still half a maid) | 10 |
| Are in sweet short breathed murmurs paid. | |
| I must to lengthen on the pleasure, | |
| Dwell on thy lips, and kiss by leisure; | |
| Who am not one that loves to kiss | |
| Goddesses, breathless images, | 15 |
| Nor can I the most beauteous saint, | |
| The loveliest face, salute in paint: | |
| Warm flesh and blood I’d rather choose | |
| A tender creature full of juice, | |
| Darting her nimble tongue between | 20 |
| My moistened lips; there meeting mine, | |
| Sometimes I’d catch the pliant toy, | |
| Suck it a while with eager joy; | |
| Then let it go, and gently nip, | |
| Instead of it the nether lip. | 25 |
| Thus Celia, would we sport away | |
| Like cooing doves, the happy day; | |
| And never sated with delight, | |
| Begin the same again at night. | |
| Compared with kisses, such as these, | 30 |
| Nectar, itself, insipid is: | |
| Give me but these alone, and leave | |
| To stroke thy bubbies as they heave: | |
| Let my hand thence, but quickly rove | |
| Down to the pleasing seat of love, | 35 |
| Whither, do what we can, i’ the end | |
| Our curiosity will tend. | |
| Then let those mistresses above, | |
| Venus and Hebe (that of love, | |
| And this of youth, the deity) | 40 |
| Fall to whose share they will for me, | |
| I’ll envy none, nor e’er repine, | |
| Since, judge who will, the odds are mine. | |