| T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22. | | | | The Penance | | By Nahum Tate (1652–1715) |
| | | NYMPH FANARET, the gentlest maid | |
| That ever happy swain obeyed, | |
| (For what offence I cannot say) | |
| A day and night, and half a day, | |
| Banished her shepherd from her sight: | 5 |
| His fault for certain was not slight, | |
| Or sure this tender judge had ne’er | |
| Imposed a penance so severe. | |
| And lest she should anon revoke | |
| What in her warmer rage she spoke, | 10 |
| She bound the sentence with an oath, | |
| Protested by her Faith and Troth, | |
| Nought should compound for his offence | |
| But the full time of abstinence. | |
| Yet when his penance-glass were run, | 15 |
| His hours of castigation done, | |
| Should he defer one moment’s space | |
| To come and be restored to grace, | |
| With sparkling threat’ning eyes she swore | |
| That failing would incense her more | 20 |
| Than all his trespasses before. | | | | |
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