Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910.

On Lydia Distracted

Philip Ayres (1638–1712)

WITH hairs, which for the wind to play with, hung,

With her torn garments, and with naked feet,

Fair Lydia dancing went from street to street,

Singing with pleasant voice her foolish song.

On her she drew all eyes in every place,

And them to pity by her pranks did move,

Which turn’d with gazing longer into Love

By the rare beauty of her charming face.

In all her frenzies, and her mimicries,

While she did Nature’s richest gifts despise,

There active Love did subt’ly play his part.

Her antic postures made her look more gay,

Her ragged clothes her treasures did display,

And with each motion she ensnared a heart.