Trifles :: :: University of Virginia Library

Come, my fairest, learn of me,
Learn to give and take the bliss;
Come, my love, here's none but we,
I'll instruct thee how to kiss.
Why turn from me that dear face?
Why that blush, and down-cast eye?
Come, come, meet my fond embrace,
And the mutual rapture try.

Throw thy lovely twining arms
Round my neck, or round my waist;
And whilst I devour thy charms,
Let me closely be embrac'd:
Then when soft ideas rise,
And the gay desires grow strong;
Let them sparkle in thy eyes,
Let them murmur from thy tongue.

To my breast with rapture cling,
Look with transport on my face,
Kiss me, press me, every thing
To endear the fond embrace.
Every tender name of love,
In soft whispers let me hear;
And let speaking nature prove
Every extasy sincere.

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Song II. The Imaginary Kiss.

When Fanny I saw as she tript o'er the green,
Fair, blooming, soft, artless and kind;
Fond love in her eyes, wit and sense in her mien,
And warmness with modesty join'd:
Transported with sudden amazement I stood,
Fast riveted down to the place;
Her delicate shape, easy motion I view'd,
And wander'd o'er every grace.

Ye gods! what luxuriance of beauty, I cry,
What raptures must dwell in her arms!
On her lips I could feast, on her breast I could die,
O Fanny, how sweet are thy charms!
Whilst thus in idea my passion I fed,
Soft transport my senses invade,
Young Damon step'd up, with the substance he fled,
And left me to kiss the dear shade.

Song III. The Feast.

Polly, when your lips you join,
Lovely ruby lips, to mine;
To the bee the flow'ry field
Such a banquet does not yield;
Not the dewy morning-rose
So much sweetness does inclose;
Not the gods such nectar sip,
As Colin from thy balmy lip:
Kiss me then, with rapture kiss,
We'll surpass the gods in bliss.

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Song IV. The Stolen Kiss.

On a mossy bank reclin'd,
Beauteous Chloe lay reposing,
O'er her breast each am'rous wind
Wanton play'd, its sweets disclosing:
Tempted with the swelling charms,
Colin, happy swain, drew nigh her,
Softly stole into her arms,
Laid his scrip and sheep-hook by her.

O'er her downy panting breast
His delighted fingers roving;
To her lips his lips he prest,
In the extasy of loving:
Chloe, waken'd with his kiss,
Pleas'd, yet frowning to conceal it,
Cry'd, true lovers share the bliss?
Why then, Colin, wou'd you steal it?

Song V. The Meeting Kiss.

Let me fly into thy arms;
Let me taste again thy charms;
Kiss me, press me to thy breast
In raptures not to be exprest.

Let me clasp thy lovely waist;
Throw thy arms around my neck:
Thus embracing and embrac'd,
Nothing shall our raptures check.

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Hearts with mutual pleasure glowing;
Lips with lips together growing;
Eyes with tears of gladness flowing;
Eyes, and lips, and hearts shall show,
Th' excess of joy that meeting lovers know.

Song VI. The Parting Kiss.

One kind kiss before we part,
Drop a tear, and bid adieu;
Tho' we sever, my fond heart
Till we meet shall pant for you.

Yet, yet weep not so, my love,
Let me kiss that falling tear,
Tho' my body must remove,
All my soul will still be here.

All my soul, and all my heart,
And every wish shall pant for you;
One kind kiss then e'er we part,
Drop a tear, and bid adieu.

Song VII. The Borrow'd Kiss.

See I languish, see I faint,
I must borrow, beg, or steal;
Can you see a soul in want,
And no kind compassion feel?
Give, or lend, or let me take
One sweet kiss, I ask no more;
One sweet kiss, for pity's sake,
I'll repay it o'er and o'er.

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Chole heard, and with a smile,
Kind, compassionate and sweet,
Colin, it's a sin to steal,
And for me to give's not meet:
But I'll lend a kiss, or twain,
To poor Colin in distress;
Not that I'd be paid again,
Colin I mean nothing less.

Song VIII. The Kiss Repaid.

Chloe, by that borrow'd kiss,
I, alas! am quite undone;
'Twas so sweet, so fraught with bliss,
Thousands will not pay that one.

Lest the debt should break your heart,
Roguish Chloe smiling cries,
Come, a hundred then in part,
For the present shall suffice.

Song IX. The Secret Kiss.

At the silent evening hour,
Two fond lovers in a bower
Sought their mutal bliss;
Tho' her heart was just relenting,
Tho' her eyes seem'd just consenting,
Yet she fear'd to kiss.

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Since this secret shade, he cry'd,
Will those rosy blushes hide,
Why will you resist?
When no tell-tale spy is near us,
Eye not sees, nor ear can hear us,
Who wou'd not be kiss'd?

Molly hearing what he said,
Blushing lifted up her head,
Her breast soft wishes fill;
Since, she cry'd, no spy is near us,
Eye not sees, nor ear can hear us,
Kiss—or what you will.

Song X. The Rapture.

Whilst on thy dear bosom lying,
Cælia, who can speak my bliss?
Who the raptures I'm enjoying,
When thy balmy lips I kiss?
Every look with love inspiers me,
Every touch my bosom warms,
Every melting murmur fires me,
Every joy is in thy arms.

Those dear eyes, how soft they languish!
Feel my heart with rapture beat!
Pleasure turns almost to anguish,
When the transport is so sweet.

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Look not so divinely on me,
Cælia, I shall die with bliss;
Yet, yet turn those eyes upon me,
Who'd not die a death like this?

Song XI. The Reconciling Kiss.

Why that sadness on thy brow?
Why that starting crystal tear?
Dearest Polly, let me know,
For thy grief I cannot bear.
Polly with a sigh reply'd,
What need I the cause impart?
Did you not this moment chide?
And you know it breaks my heart.

Colin, melting as she spoke,
Caught the fair one in his arms;
O my dear! that tender look,
Every passion quite disarms:
By this dear relenting kiss,
I'd no anger in my thought;
Come, my love, by this, and this,
Let our quarrel be forgot.

As when sudden stormy rain,
Every drooping flowret spoils;
When the sun shines out again,
All the face of nature smiles:
Polly, so reviv'd and cheer'd
By her Colin's kind embrace,
Her declining head up-rear'd,
Sweetly smiling in his face.

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Song XII. The Mutual Kiss.

Cælia, by those smiling graces,
Which my panting bosom warm;
By the heaven of thy embraces,
By thy wond'rous power to charm;
By those soft bewitching glances,
Which my inmost bosom move;
By those lips, whose kiss entrances,
Thee, and thee alone I love.

By thy God-like art of loving,
Cælia, with a blush, replies;
By thy heavenly power of moving,
All my soul to sympathize;
By thy eager fond caresses,
By those arms around me thrown;
By that look, which truth expresses,
My fond heart is all thy own.

Thus, with glowing inclination,
They indulge the tender bliss;
And to bind the lasting passion,
Seal it with a mutual kiss:
Close, in fond embraces, lying,
They together seem to grow;
Such supreme delight enjoying,
As true lovers only know.