The Grecian Story Being an Historical Poem, in Five Books. To which is Annex'd The Grove: Consisting of Divers Shorter Poems upon several Subjects. By J. H. [i.e. John Harington] |
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 | The Grecian Story |  |
Their Hostess, Host sat down, invited there,
Joyn'd plesant Talk to th' handsom Meal, whate're;
Chiefly the Man, who soberly confest,
That fairer then Clermanthe ne're had prest
That Marriage-Bed, but his own Wife (repay'd
With Thumps by her) who might be then best Maid
Perchance he thought. Clermanthe Blush'd, reply'd,
She scarce, should wish her Servant by her side,
Those Words pronounc'd. Good Wife Thumph'd him agen,
Orsamnes smil'd; did ask his Reason then
For those hard thoughts. Because (he said) She might
Prove Married Spouse to that brave Youth Downright,
Tho sister call'd; his wife (esteem'd the Flow'r
Of all their Sex) did prove first grasping hour
Virgin compleat Orsamnes answered thus;
I'm bashful Spouse, when't shews Presumptuous
To lie by her, O (said the Man) because
She was now some Breeding Qualms, that squeamish pause.
Distemper past You may with Arms infold her
(Which made the Duke with smiles again behold her)
Hard Wooing brunts (said he) could Trecite,
Plough the easier Task, before our Wedding Night:
Then bad Mischance, the Pis-pot was o'erthrown,
Foul Sign methought. Wife Box'd him thereupon.
Joyn'd plesant Talk to th' handsom Meal, whate're;
140
That fairer then Clermanthe ne're had prest
That Marriage-Bed, but his own Wife (repay'd
With Thumps by her) who might be then best Maid
Perchance he thought. Clermanthe Blush'd, reply'd,
She scarce, should wish her Servant by her side,
Those Words pronounc'd. Good Wife Thumph'd him agen,
Orsamnes smil'd; did ask his Reason then
For those hard thoughts. Because (he said) She might
Prove Married Spouse to that brave Youth Downright,
Tho sister call'd; his wife (esteem'd the Flow'r
Of all their Sex) did prove first grasping hour
Virgin compleat Orsamnes answered thus;
I'm bashful Spouse, when't shews Presumptuous
To lie by her, O (said the Man) because
She was now some Breeding Qualms, that squeamish pause.
Distemper past You may with Arms infold her
(Which made the Duke with smiles again behold her)
Hard Wooing brunts (said he) could Trecite,
Plough the easier Task, before our Wedding Night:
Then bad Mischance, the Pis-pot was o'erthrown,
Foul Sign methought. Wife Box'd him thereupon.
| The Grecian Story | |