| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | “Do Not Ask Me, Charming Phillis” | | Anonymous |
| | (From The New Academy of Compliments, 1671) |
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DO not ask me, charming Phillis, | |
| Why I lead you here alone | |
| By this bank of pinks and lilies | |
| And of roses newly blown. | |
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| ’Tis not to behold the beauty | 5 |
| Of those flowers that crown the spring, | |
| ’Tis to—but I know my duty | |
| And dare never name the thing. | |
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| ’Tis at worst but her denying: | |
| Why should I thus fearful be? | 10 |
| Every minute, gently flying, | |
| Smiles and says “Make use of me.” | |
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| What the sun does to those roses | |
| While the beams play sweetly in, | |
| I would—but my fear opposes | 15 |
| And I dare not name the thing. | |
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| Yet I die if I conceal it: | |
| Ask my eyes, or ask your own, | |
| And if neither dare reveal it, | |
| Think what lovers think alone. | 20 |
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| On this bank of pinks and lilies, | |
| Might I speak what I would do, | |
| I would—with my lovely Phillis— | |
| I would—I would—ah, would you? | | | |
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