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Home  »  Poetica Erotica  »  The Willing Mistress

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

The Willing Mistress

By Aphra Behn (1640–1689)
 
(Poems, 1697)

AMYNTAS led me to a Grove,
  Where all the Trees did shade us;
The Sun itself, though it had Strove,
  It could not have betray’d us:
The place secur’d from humane Eyes,        5
  No other fear allows,
But when the Winds that gently rise,
  Do Kiss the yielding Boughs.
 
Down there we sat upon the Moss,
  And did begin to play        10
A Thousand Amorous Tricks, to pass
  The heat of all the day.
A many Kisses he did give:
  And I return’d the same
Which made me willing to receive        15
  That which I dare not name.
 
His Charming Eyes no Aid requir’d
  To tell their softning Tale;
On her that was already fir’d,
  ’Twas Easy to prevail.        20
He did but Kiss and Clasp me round,
  Whilst those his thoughts Expressed:
And lay’d me gently on the Ground;
  Ah! who can guess the rest?