T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
“Philander and Sylvia, a Gentle Soft Pair”
By Nathaniel Lee (c. 1653–1692)(Music in Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1707) PHILANDER and Sylvia, a gentle soft Pair, | |
| Whose business was loving, and kissing their Care; | |
| In a sweet smelling Grove went smiling along, | |
| Till the Youth gave a vent to his Heart with his Tongue: | |
| Ah, Sylvia! said he, (and sighed when he spoke) | 5 |
| Your cruel resolves will you never revoke? | |
| No never, she said. How never, he cried, | |
| ’Tis the Damned that shall only that Sentence abide. | |
| She turned her about to look all around, | |
| Then blushed, and her pretty Eyes cast on the Ground; | 10 |
| She kissed his warm Cheeks, then played with his Neck, | |
| And urged that his Reason his Passion would check: | |
| Ah, Philander! she said, ’tis a dangerous Bliss, | |
| Ah! never ask more and I’ll give thee a Kiss; | |
| How never? he cried, then shivered all o’er, | 15 |
| No never, she said, then tripped to a Bower. | |
| She stopped at the Wicket, he cried let me in, | |
| She answered, I would if it were not a sin; | |
| Heaven sees, and the Gods will chastise the poor Head | |
| Of Philander for this; straight Trembling he said, | 20 |
| Heaven sees, I confess, but no Tell-tales are there, | |
| She kissed him and cried, you’re an Atheist, my Dear; | |
| And should you prove false I should never endure: | |
| How never? he cried, and straight down he threw her. | |
| Her delicate Body he clasped in his Arms, | 25 |
| He kissed her, he pressed her, heaped charms upon charms; | |
| He cried shall I now? no never, she said, | |
| Your Will you shall never enjoy till I’m dead: | |
| Then as if she were dead, she slept and lay still, | |
| Yet even in Death bequeathed him a smile: | 30 |
| When emboldened the Youth his Charms to apply, | |
| Which he bore still about him to cure those that die. | |