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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  “When Fanny to Woman Is Growing Apace”

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

“When Fanny to Woman Is Growing Apace”

By W. Yates
 
(New Songs, etc. Sung at Vauxhall, No. 4. 1765)

WHEN Fanny to woman is growing apace,
The rose-bud beginning to blow in her face,
For mamma’s wise precepts she cares not a jot,
Her heart pants for something—she cannot tell what.
 
No sooner the wanton her freedom obtains,        5
Than among the gay youths a tyrant she reigns;
And finding her beauty such power has got,
Her heart pants for something—she cannot tell what.
 
Tho’ all day in splendor she flaunts it about,
At court, park, and play, the ridotto, and rout;        10
Though flatter’d and envy’d, she pines at her lot,
Her heart pants for something—but cannot tell what.
 
A touch of the hand, or a glance of the eye,
From him she likes best make her ready to die;
Not knowing ’tis Cupid his arrow has shot,        15
Her heart pants for something—but cannot tell what.
 
Ye fair take advice, and be blest while you may,
Each look, word, and action, your wishes betray;
Give ease to your hearts by the conjugal knot,
Tho’ they pant e’er so much—you’ll soon know for what.        20