| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | A Song from “Miscellany Poems” | | By John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| | (1685)
SYLVIA the fair, in the bloom of Fifteen | |
| Felt an innocent warmth, as she lay on the green; | |
| She had heard of a pleasure, and something she guessed | |
| By the towzing and tumbling and touching her Breast: | |
| She saw the men eager, but was at a loss, | 5 |
| What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
| By their praying and whining, | |
| And clasping and twining, | |
| And panting and wishing, | |
| And sighing and kissing, | 10 |
| And sighing and kissing so close. | |
| |
| Ah! she cry’d, ah! for a languishing maid | |
| In a country of Christians to die without aid! | |
| Not a Whig, or a Tory, or Trimmer at least, | |
| Or a Protestant parson or Catholic priest, | 15 |
| To instruct a young virgin that is at a loss | |
| What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
| By their praying and whining, | |
| And clasping and twining, | |
| And panting and wishing, | 20 |
| And sighing and kissing, | |
| And sighing and kissing so close. | |
| |
| Cupid in shape of a swain did appear, | |
| He saw the sad wound, and in pity drew near, | |
| Then show’d her his Arrow, and bid her not fear, | 25 |
| For the pain was no more than a maiden may bear; | |
| When the balm was infus’d, she was not at a loss | |
| What they meant by their sighing and kissing so close; | |
| By their praying and whining, | |
| And clasping and twining, | 30 |
| And panting and wishing, | |
| And sighing and kissing, | |
| And sighing and kissing so close. | | | | |
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