University of Virginia Library

THE YOVNGEST Sisters dreame.

Qoth shee, on bedds softe downe downe did J lie
And snugd doowne close, to haue sleepe close eache eye
But ere twould bee, I entred in a muse
(I such a muse as all wee maydens vse)
J mus'd (me thought) yf there were sweeter blisse
For maydes, then't lie with men, to clipp and kisse
Me thought, J thought (this thought fetcht out a groane)
It was a hell to lie, all night alone,
At which I sight, and turning me J wept
Desiring, what I knowe not, till J slept
Jn which my sleepe (oh fancies sweete delight?)
Appeard a youth (Pheobus was much lesse bright)
Gold were his lockes, firye sparkles were his eyne
His browes, cheekes, and chynn were as louelie fyne
J'ns shirte was hee, a shirt soe fyne I wynn
As one might see, what was tweene shirt and skynn
His snowe-white armes, in-laide with azurd vaine
(Mixed with crimson dye) one might see plaine
His full-broade manlie some-what downye cheste
Dale-like indented tweene two mounting brestes;


On which two prettie fruiteles teatlinges grewe:
Not milkie sweete, sweete onelie for the veswe.
J saw's soft slender waste; and sisters well nie
I sawe what grewe beneathe his plump-round bellie:
All what I sawe (sweete wenches) J would tell ye
But that sweete loue coniures me (heres' the spight)
Not to discribe, mans sweetly-sportiue spright:
Oh sweet's the dreame, which yeeldeth such delight!
But come girles come; (fye whether doe I roame?)
Me thinkes but coldlie J tooth purpose come:
To me he came, and kiste me too; when J
Me thought did faine, I did a sleeping lie
Me thought, I lett him kisse and kisse agenn
And touche me too (maydes maie be toucht by men.)
I sisters, faythe (me thinkes) that maide's vnwise
That will in private, to hir loue be nice
Two faythfull lovers cannot synn I weene
Soe what they doe, by others is not seene.
Nowe would the wagg, be stroaking of my face
And nowe my pappes, anon another place
Delighting of himselfe, sisters you can
(Better then J) tell what best likes a man
But fayth-la girles, J cannot chuse but smile
I laie, as yf J soundlie slept the while
Permitting him to please the appetite
Of his too too-fond, youth-lust-burning sight
Fayning, J soundest slept, when hee did steale
To vnhill that which maides should cheifst conceale
But, when as hee'd haue come into my bedd
The feare I had to loose my maydenhead
Awaked me: Quoth thother sisters, what?
J hope we maydens least of all feare that
Beleeue me (quoth the elder girle) should J
With my sweete-hart, on my wedding-night lie
And find him drowsie dull, like heauie lead
Hunting but coldlie for a maydenhead:
Twould kill my tender hart: twould murder mee
The blushing morne I nere should liue to see
Oh J should fill the roome with groanes: in morne
With lookes deiected J should seeme forlorne.


But when you wakt (quoth she) chast you not then
Oh noe! in that case maides nere chafe with men
Though wee seeme angry, at there boldest partes
Yet seldome comes, our anger from out hartes
For in loues sporte (this is our sexes wyle)
We'el seeme to frowne when most of all we smile
Yet sisters faith (quoth shee) me thought J wept
When J did wake, cause J noe longer slept
For trath-la girles such pleasure in't tooke J
As in like dreame, twould nere greiue me to die
Had I a world, Jd'e giv't to learne the skyll
Howe J should sleepe and dreame soe at my will.
Had I that arte, that matchles pleasing slyght
Fewe daies Jd'e haue, eache daie Jd'e turne to night:
Lye downe J would, lulling my selfe a sleepe,
Bidding my soule delightfull revells keepe:
Sild would I wake, but alwaies by my will
Jde sleepe, and dreame, and he embracing still.
Nowe second sister wake, J praie (quoth shee)
And in your laste nightes dreame come second me.