The Works of Mr. John Oldham :: :: University of Virginia Library

Phillis , 'tis own'd, I am your Slave,
This happy moment dates your Reign;
No force of Humane Pow'r can save
My captive Heart, that wears your chain:

But when my Conquest you design'd;
Pardon, bright Nymph, if I declare,
It was unjust, and too severe,
Thus to attack me from behind.

II

Against the Charms, your Eyes impart,
With care I had secur'd my Heart;
On all the wonders of your Face
Could safely, and unwounded gaze:
But now entirely to enthral
My Breast, you have expos'd to view
Another more resistless Foe,
From which I had no guard at all.

III

At first assault constrain'd to yield,
My vanquish'd Heart resign'd the Field,
My Freedom to the Conquerour
Became a prey that very hour:

The subtle Traitor, who unspied
Had lurk'd till now in close disguise,
Lay all his life in ambush hid
At last to kill me by surprize.

IV

A sudden Heat my Breast inspir'd,
The piercing Flame, like Light'ning, sent
From that new dawning Firmament
Through every Vein my Spirits fir'd;
My Heart, before averse to Love,
No longer could a Rebel prove;
When on the Grass you did display
Your radiant Bum to my survey,
And sham'd the Lustre of the Day.

V

The Sun in Heav'n, abash'd to see
A thing more gay, more bright than He,
Struck with disgrace, as well he might,
Thought to drive back the Steeds of Light:

His Beams he now thought useless grown,
That better were by yours supplied,
But having once seen your Back side,
For shame he durst not shew his own.

VI

Forsaking every Wood, and Grove,
The Sylvans ravish'd at the sight,
In pressing Crowds about you strove,
Gazing, and lost in wonder quite:
Fond Zephyr seeing your rich store
Of Beauty, undescried before,
Enamour'd of each lovely Grace,
Before his own dear Flora's face,
Could not forbear to kiss the place.

VII

The beauteous Queen of Flow'rs, the Rose,
In blushes did her shame disclose:
Pale Lillies droop'd, and hung their heads,
And shrunk for fear into their Beds:

The amorous Narcissus too,
Reclaim'd of fond self-love by you,
His former vain desire cashier'd,
And your fair Breech alone admir'd.

VIII

When this bright Object greets our sight,
All others lose their Lustre quite:
Your Eyes that shoot such pointed Rays,
And all the Beauties of your Race,
Like dwindling Stars, that fly away
At the approach of brighter Day,
No more regard, or value bear,
But when its Glories disappear.

IX

Of some ill Qualities they tell,
Which justly give me cause to fear;
But that, which most begets despair,
It has no sense of Love at all:

More hard than Adamant it is,
They say, that no Impression takes,
It has no Ears, nor any Eyes,
And rarely, very rarely speaks.

X

Yet I must love't, and own my Flame,
Which to the world I thus rehearse,
Throughout the spacious coasts of Fame
To stand recorded in my Verse:
No other subject, or design
Henceforth shall be my Muses Theme,
But with just Praises to proclaim
The fairest Arse, that e're was seen.

XI

In pity gentle Phillis hide
The dazling Beams of your Back-side;
For should they shine unclouded long,
All humane kind would be undone.

Not the bright Goddesses on high,
That reign above the starry Sky,
Should they turn up to open view
All their immortal Tails, can shew
An Arse-h--- so divine as you.