T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
The Hasty Bridegroom
AnonymousOr, The Rarest Sport That Hath Been Try’d between a Lusty Bridgeroom and His Bride (From Roxburgh Ballads, 1674–81, ii. 208) |
COME from the Temple, away to the Bed, | |
As the Merchant transports home his Treasure; | |
Be not so coy, Lady, since we are wed, | |
’Tis no Sin to taste of the Pleasure: | |
Then come let us be blithe, merry and free, | 5 |
Upon my life all the waiters are gone; | |
And ’tis so, that they know where you go, say not No. | |
For I mean to make bold with my own. | |
What is it to me, though our Hands joined be, | |
If our Bodies are still kept asunder? | 10 |
Shall it be said, ‘there goes a marry’d Maid’? | |
Indeed we will have no such wonder: | |
Therefore let’s embrace, there’s none sees thy face, | |
The Bride-Maids that waited are gone; | |
None can spy how you lie, ne’er deny, but say ‘Ay!’, | 15 |
For I mean to make bold with my own. | |
Then come let us Kiss, and taste of that bliss, | |
Which brave Lords and Ladies enjoy’d; | |
If Maidens should be of the humour of thee, | |
Generations would soon be destroy’d: | 20 |
Then where were those Joys, the Girls and the Boys? | |
Would’st live in the World all alone? | |
Don’t destroy, but enjoy seem not Coy for a Toy, | |
For indeed I’ll make bold with my own. | |
Sweet Love do not frown, but put off thy gown, | 25 |
’Tis a Garment unfit for the Night; | |
Some say that Black hath a relishing smack, | |
I had rather be dealing in White: | |
Then be not afraid, for you are not betray’d, | |
Since we [two] are together alone; | 30 |
I invite you this Night, to do right, my delight, | |
Is forthwith to make use of my own. | |
Prithee begin, don’t delay, but unpin, | |
For my humour I cannot prevent it; | |
You are [so] straight-lac’d, and your Georgette’s so fast, | 35 |
Undo it, or I straight will rend it: | |
Or to end all the strife, I’ll cut it a Knife, | |
’Tis too long to stay ’til it’s undone; | |
Let thy Waist be unlac’d, and in haste be embrac’d, | |
For I do long to make bold with my own. | 40 |
Feel with your hand how you make me to stand, | |
Even ready to starve in the cold, | |
Oh, why should’st thou be so hard-hearted to me, | |
That loves thee more dear[ly] than gold? | |
And as thou hast been, like fair Venus the Queen, | 45 |
Most pleasant in thy parts every one, | |
Let me find that thy mind is inclin’d to be kind, | |
So that I may make bold with my own. | |
As thou art fair, and more sweet than the air, | |
That dallies on July’s brave Roses; | 50 |
Now let me be to that Garden a Key, | |
That the Flowers of Virgins incloses: | |
And I will not be too rough unto thee, | |
For my Nature unto boldness is prone; | |
Do no less than undress, and unlace all apace, | 55 |
For this Night I’ll make use with my own. | |
When I have found thee temperate and sound, | |
Thy sweet breast I will make for my pillow, | |
’Tis pity that we, which newly married be, | |
Should be forced to wear the green willow; | 60 |
We shall be blest and live sweetly at rest, | |
Now we are united in one: | |
With content and consent I am bent, my intent | |
Is this Night to make use of my own. | |
THE LADY’S LOVING REPLY Welcome, dear love, all the powers above | 65 |
Are well pleased of our happy meeting; | |
The Heavens have decreed, and the Earth’s agreed, | |
That I should embrace my own sweeting. | |
At bed and at board both in deed and in word, | |
My affection to thee shall be shown: | 70 |
Thou art mine, I am thine, let us join, and combine, | |
I’ll not bar thee from what is thy own. | |
Our Bride-bed’s made, thou shalt be my comrade, | |
For to lodge in my arms all the night, | |
Where thou shalt enjoy, being free from annoy | 75 |
All the sports wherein love takes delight. | |
Our mirth shall be crown’d, and our triumph renown’d, | |
Then sweetheart let thy valor be shown, | |
Take thy fill, do thy will, use thy skill, welcome still, | |
Why should’st thou not make bold with thy own? | 80 |
The Bridegroom and Bride, with much joy on each side, | |
Then together to bed they did go, | |
But what they did there, I did neither see nor hear, | |
Nor do I desire not to know, | |
But by Cupid’s aid, they being well laid, | 85 |
They made sport by themselves all alone, | |
Being plac’d, and unlac’d, He uncas’d, she embrac’d, | |
Then he stoutly made bold with his own. | |