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Home  »  The Poems of John Dryden  »  “Calm was the Even, and clear was the Sky,” from An Evening’s Love

John Dryden (1631–1700). The Poems of John Dryden. 1913.

Songs from the Plays

“Calm was the Even, and clear was the Sky,” from An Evening’s Love

CALM was the Even, and clear was the Sky,

And the new-budding Flowers did spring,

When all alone went Amyntas and I

To hear the sweet Nightingal sing;

I sate, and he laid him down by me;

But scarcely his breath he could draw;

For when with a fear, he began to draw near,

He was dash’d with A ha ha ha ha!

He blush’d to himself, and lay still for a while,

And his modesty curb’d his desire;

But straight I convinc’d all his fear with a smile,

Which added new Flames to his Fire.

O Sylvia, said he, you are cruel,

To keep your poor Lover in awe;

Then once more he prest with his hand to my brest

But was dash’d with A ha ha ha ha.

I knew ’twas his passion that caus’d all his fear;

And therefore. I pity’d his Case:

I whisper’d him softly, there’s no body here

And laid my Cheek close to his Face:

But as he grew bolder and bolder,

A Shepheard came by us and saw;

And just as our bliss we began with a Kiss,

He laugh’d out with A ha ha ha ha.