T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Whilst Alexis Lay Prest
By John Dryden (16311700)(From Marriage-à-la-mode, 1673) WHILST Alexis lay prest | |
In her Arms he lov’d best, | |
With his hands round her neck, | |
And his head on her breast, | |
He found the fierce pleasure too hasty to stay, | 5 |
And his soul in the tempest just flying away. | |
When Celia saw this, | |
With a sigh, and a kiss, | |
She cry’d, Oh my dear, I am robb’d of my bliss; | |
’Tis unkind to your Love, and unfaithfully done, | 10 |
To leave me behind you, and die all alone. | |
The Youth, though in haste, | |
And breathing his last, | |
In pity died slowly, while she died more fast; | |
Till at length she cry’d, Now, my dear, let us go, | 15 |
Now die, my Alexis, and I will die too. | |
Thus intranc’d they did lie, | |
Till Alexis did try | |
To recover new breath, that again he might die: | |
Then often they died; but the more they did so, | 20 |
The Nymph died more quick, and the Shepherd more slow. | |