T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Upon a Sunshine Summers Day
Anonymous(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) |
UPON a sunshine Summer’s day, | |
When every Tree was green and gay; | |
The Morning blusht with Phœbus ray, | |
Just then ascending from the Sea: | |
As Sylvia did a Hunting ride, | 5 |
A lovely Cottage he espied; | |
Where lovely Chloe Spinning sat, | |
And still she turned her Wheel about. | |
Her Face a Thousand Graces crown, | |
Her curling Hair was lovely brown; | 10 |
Her rolling Eyes all Hearts did win, | |
And white as Down of Swans her Skin: | |
So taking her plain Dress appears, | |
Her Age not passing Sixteen Years, | |
The Swain lay sighing at her Foot, | 15 |
Yet still she turned her Wheel about. | |
Thou sweetest of thy tender kind, | |
Cries he, this ne’er can suit thy Mind; | |
Such Grace attracting noble Loves, | |
Was ne’er designed for Woods and Groves: | 20 |
Come, come with me, to Court, my Dear, | |
Partake my Love and Honor there; | |
And leave this Rural sordid route, | |
And turn no more thy Wheel about. | |
At this with some few Modest sighs, | 25 |
She turns to him her Charming Eyes; | |
Ah! tempt me, Sir, no more, she cries, | |
Nor seek my Weakness to surprise: | |
I know your Art’s to be believed, | |
I know how Virgins are deceived; | 30 |
Then let me thus my Life wear out, | |
And turn my harmless Wheel about. | |
By that dear panting Breast, cries he, | |
And yet unseen divinity; | |
Nay, by my Soul that rests in thee, | 35 |
I swear this cannot, must not be: | |
Ah! cause not my eternal woe, | |
Nor kill the Man that Loves thee so; | |
But go with me, and ease my doubt, | |
And turn no more thy Wheel about. | 40 |
His cunning Tongue so play’d its part, | |
He gain’d admission to her Heart; | |
And now she thinks it is no Sin, | |
To take Love’s fatal poison in: | |
But ah! too late she found her fault, | 45 |
For he her Charms had soon forgot; | |
And left her e’er the Year ran out, | |
In Tears to turn her Wheel about. | |