T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
When Phbus Addrest
Anonymous(From The Percy Folio Manuscript, 1620–50, page 96 of MS.; probably the earliest copy known) |
WHEN Phœbus addrest himself to the west, | |
And set up his rest below, | |
Cynthia agreed in her glittering weed | |
Her beauty on me to bestow; | |
And walking alone, attended by none, | 5 |
By chance I heard one cry | |
“O do not, do not, kill me yet, | |
For I am not prepared to die!” | |
With that I drew near to see and to hear, | |
And strange did appear such a show; | 10 |
The Moon it was bright, and gave such a light | |
As fits not each wight to know: | |
A man and a maid, together were laid, | |
And ever the maid she did cry, | |
“O do not, do not, kill me yet, I, | 15 |
For I am not resolved to die!” | |
The youth was rough, he took up her stuff, | |
And to blindman’s buff they did go; | |
He kept such a coil, he gave her the foil, | |
So great the broil it did grow. | 20 |
But she was so young, and he was so strong, | |
And he left her not till she did cry, | |
“O do not, do not, kill me yet, | |
For I am not resolved to die!” | |
With that he gave o’er, and solemnly swore | 25 |
He would kill her no more that night, | |
But bade her adieu: full little he knew | |
She would tempt him to more delight. | |
But when they should part, it went to her heart, | |
And gave her more cause for to cry, | 30 |
“O kill me, kill me, once again, | |
For now I am willing to die!” | |