T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.

Cupid’s Victory over the Virgin’s Hearts

Anonymous

(Roxburgh Ballads, ii. 64; c. 1701)

	When Cupid’s Dart does pierce the heart
	of a fair Youthful Maid,
	She’s forc’d to bend, and not Contend—
	his Laws must be Obey’d.

WHERE’S my Shepherd (my love) hey-ho,
On yonder Mountain amidst the Snow;
I dearly love him I vow, and now
Will follow, and merrily to him go:
My young Shepherd has Beauty and Charms,	5
And I long to find him in my arms,
I long for Night to Embrace him a Bed,
And I long to give him my Maiden-head.

Soft and sweet are the joys of Love,
Which every Virgin does long to prove,	10
I will not tarry, but Marry,
and every Rival will soon remove:
Bonny Susan does muse on all night,
Upon all our joys and sweet delight,
She dreams of Kisses, Embraces, and charms,	15
And she starts and thinks my love in her arms.

Sweetly looks the fair Bride in Bed,
With thousand Cupids all round her head,
She softly sighs, and wishes, and kisses,
as soon as the Curtains are closely spread:	20
Every Bridegroom does then what he please,
And the lovely Brides their flames appease,
I need not name what young Lovers do do,
For ’tis known to every one, I and to you.

Mark how kindly she looks next day,	25
More lively, lovely, more brisk and gay;
’Twould make maids long to be cooing and wooing,
to see how these wantons do sport and play:
Some new charm in his looks she espies,
And then he looks Babies in her eyes;	30
Then, while her fondling new pleasures does seek,
She kindly kisses and claps his cheek.

Vain it is to be nice and coy,
And let old Time all our youth destroy,
I like not Whining and pining,	35
for that which one easily mightly enjoy:
There are bonny, brisk lovers in store,
And then what can Maidens wish for more,
What need has Susan to sigh and look pale,
When she might o’er Thomas’s heart prevail.	40

Have not Women soft charms and Arts,
By Nature given to conquer hearts,
Which never does fail, but prevail,
as often as ever they shoot their Darts;
No brisk youth can withstand a Maid’s charms,	45
But does strangely soften in her Arms;
The Roughest Hero in all the bright field,
To a brighter Beauty will bow and yield.

Now, young buxom fair Maids, come here,
And learn this lesson—(to Love give ear),	50
The little Boy is so pretty and witty,
and pleasant and soft, that you need not fear;
Roger he shall have Cisley and Nan,
And young Kate shall kiss my Ladies’ Man,
Doll shall have William, and John shall have Joan,	55
And thus neither Sex shall lie alone.

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