University of Virginia Library

Hot was the noon in summers sultry hour
The sun then raging with meridian power
When I more burning with the scorching heat
Of hot desire—lay hid in close retreat
Beneath the covert of a secret shade
Flush'd ‘with expectance of the lovley maid’
Sweet was the spot no one throughout the grove
Was better suited to the sports of Love
Thick twin'd the shade above my thoughtfull head
& all around me close embowering spread
So closely wove—the leaves that fan'd the air
Defy'd the sunbeams from intruding there
As when dull twilight streaks the east with grey
& only serves to tell approaching day
So shone the light in this my close retreat
The more endearing as the more discreet
For light like this to modest maids is dear
As shame in secret has the least to fear
And now before a doubt disturb'd my mind
Of ere distrusting she would prove unkind
True to her time & to her love the same
My lovley charmer to a moment came
O then what joys my happy bosom fir'd
I view'd her charms & viewing more admir'd
Charms form'd by nature pleasing to excess
Delightfull heighten'd by the charms of dress
Adorning tortoise crown'd her lovley head
Her snowy neck with little curls bespread
While wilder ringlets did her forhead grace
Readding beauties to her beautious face
Around her shoulders negligently flung
Rich silks of Indias produce loosly hung
That kindly carless of loves glances there
Left the sweet beauties of her bosom bare
Those swelling charms such throbbing bosoms prove
All blooming beauties ripn'd into love
Her gown short-sleeved to set off her charms
Display'd the fineness of her well turnd arms
Her careless robes loose floating in the air
(As negligence in dress becomes the fair)
For scorching summer suited—light & thin
Improvd the beauties they conceald within
No dress compleater throughout fashions sphere
Could set her charms off better then they were
Queens (tho more costly) in a dress neer mov'd
Half so enticeing as my charmers prov'd
Soon as she enter'd—‘O my lovley bride
‘Welcome thrice welcome to my arms’ I cry'd
‘My charmer come for thee I love & live
‘To taste those charms which thou alone canst give
‘Charms (happy fate) reserv'd for me alone
‘Charms kings & princes would be proud to own
‘O come my angel take that earnest kiss
‘& now convey me to the realms of bliss!’
She blushing turn'd & turning hung her head
So stands the Virgin at the nuptial bed
Tho fond—still fearing—bashfull to comply
At joys untasted—still asham'd to try
Alternate changes in her face prevaild
Now roses blush'd & now the lilly pal'd
Trembling she stood & silent mus'd awhile
Then fondly look'd & answer'd with a smile—
I saw her fondness—O delightfull charms!
& instant snatch'd her to my longing arms
Her lilly hand I prest which fondly burn'd
& soon the fondling token was return'd
O with what softness heav'd each swelling breast
‘Courting the hand & sueing to be prest’
Eager I travers'd all their snowy charms
& gaz'd with rapture on their fond alarms
Her rosey cheeks whose blooms eternal shine
I sweetly kiss'd & press'd em close to mine
Then with more freedom than I'd ever shown
I try'd to traverse beauties still unknown
‘Her envious gown to pull away I try'd
‘But she resisted still & still deny'd’—
‘O L---d’ she sigh'd ‘what is he going to do?
‘I know his meaning—& must love him too
‘O would he bless me with the name of wife
‘I should be happy to the end of Life
‘But thats not mine—offended powers above
‘Do what he will I cannot cease to love!’
She sigh'd & said no more but gaz'd on me
& as fond Ivy clasps around the tree
So round my neck her lilly arms she flung
& on my breast in fondest raptures hung
O heaven of Love! O paradise of bliss!
‘What love’ sigh'd I ‘can equal love like this?’
To clasp such yielding sweetness in my arms
& be in full possesion of her charms
Oer all her virgin sweets to wander free
Charms safley virgin—know to none but me!
For well the lover may such truths declare
Their timid fears are truths sufficient there
No chilling fears, no trembling alarms
Are never witnessed in hackny'd charms
The t[h]robbing bliss that heav'd her snowy breast
Full truly told the treasure I possest
& now uninterrupted or reprov'd
Love reign'd triumphant—& her fears remov'd
In all the charms endearing hopes could frame
Or heart desire, or fondest wishes name
I revell'd freely; freely then possest
(Charms so endearing not to be exprest)
Such warmth such softness—O to feel & prove
My very soul was melted into love—
Here rest fond muse—For these thy powers exce[ll]
& if thou hadst not thou must cease to tell
Nor try nor venture secrets to reveal
Which she sweet girl could wish thee to consceal
Nor raise a blush nor give that heart a pain
Which has been kind & may be kind again
So rest & let such matchless charms alone
That would but make thy imperfections known
For they're as far above thy power to tell
As her sweet charms inferior charms excell
As the sweet roseys blush & lillys snow
Out shines the blossoms that around her blow
Then let the sequel of the scene be guest
Let fancy paint—& silence think the rest.

When day declining usher'd to a Close
& evening silence bid the world repose
& deep'ning darkness hover'd oer the grove
Compell'd (not weary with the joys of love)
We fearless ventur'd from the blissfull seat
& blest the night that kept us still discreet
Unheeded home ward down the dusky plain
I led my charmer to her home again
& as weak troubles discompos'd her breast
I vow'd to love & kiss'd its fears to rest—
‘O do you love me? sighs the timerous maid
‘Will you still come?—I really am afraid
‘—O am I not Or am I to complain?—
‘When will you come?—O will you come again?
‘—Stay Strephon stay—I cannot let you go
‘Promise me truly—will to morrow do?’
‘It will’ I cry'd—‘O Strep[h]en prove it true!—
‘I will sweet girl—& till its prov'd adieu’

Thus was our parting interview exprest
& these the fears that discompos'd her breast
I kiss'd her lips—& then resolv'd to part—
& O I left her with an aching heart
For in their abscence love redoubl'd burns
& aching fondness painfully returns
Anxious I wish'd the tedious night away
& eager waited for approaching day—
With careless step—(as musing lovers roam)
I stroll'd unwilling to my dreary home
& there in pleasing pain past joys review'd
& wisht in dreams to have them still renew'd.