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

A Song: “Get you gone, you will undo me”

By Sir Charles Sedley (1639–1701)


(Miscellaneous Works, 1702) GET you gone, you will undo me,
If you love me don’t pursue me,
Let that inclination perish,
Which I dare no longer cherish,
Be content y’ave won the field,	5
’Twere base to hurt me, now I yield.

With harmless thoughts I did begin,
But in the crowd love entered in;
I knew him not, he was so gay,
So innocent, so full of play.	10
I sported thus with young desire,
Cheered with his light, freed from his fire.

But now his teeth and claws are grown,
Let me this fatal Lion shun;
You found me harmless, leave me so,	15
For were I not, you’d leave me too;
But when you change remember still,
’Twas my misfortune not my will.