T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
When Phœbus 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!” | |