Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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

Sit Down, My Dear Sylvia

Anonymous

(From Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719)

Alexis.	Sit down my dear Sylvia,
	And then tell me, tell me true,
	When we the fierce pleasure of Passion first knew;
	What Senses were charmed,
	And what Raptures did dwell,	5
	Within thy fond Heart, my dear Nymph, prithee tell!
	That when thy Delights in their fulness are known,
	I may have the joy to relate all my own.
Sylvia.	Oh fie, my Alexis!
	How dare you propose,	10
	To me, silly Girl, things immodest as those!
	Nice Candor and Modesty glow in my Breast,
	Whose Virtue can utter no Words so unchaste;
	But if your impatience admits no delay,
	Describe your own Raptures,	15
	And teach me the way.
Alexis.	A pain mixed with Pleasure my Senses first found,
	When crowds of Delight straight my Heart did surround;
	A Joy so transporting, I sighed when it was done:
	And fain would renew, but alas! all was gone;	20
	Coy nature was treacherous, when first she meant,
	A Treasure so precious so soon should be spent.
Sylvia.	This free kind Confession does so much prevail,
	That I in your bosom would blush out my Tale;
	But Dearest, you know, ’tis too much to declare,	25
	The Joys that our Souls, when united, do share.
	Let this then suffice, if the Pleasure could last,
	A Saint would leave Heaven, still so to be blest.