THE ENJOYMENT
by: William Pattison
- OME my Laura, come my love;
- Come my tender turtle-dove;
- Let me from this host retire,
- To languish in a softer fire,
- How the waving elms invite us!
- How the rosy bowers delight us!
- How their am'rous foldings twine,
- To imitate thy arms and mine!
- See these snowy lilies blowing,
- With the blushing roses glowing,
- Silently the soul inspire,
- To kindle at thy lover's fire:
- See these springing violets rise,
- Animated by thy eyes;
- Lavishly their charms they spread,
- To make a soft enamelled bed;
- And like this downy swelling breast,
- They rise, and languish to be pressed.
-
- But O thou happy, happy grove,
- Sacred to the God of love,
- With the thickest umbrage shade us,
- Let no piercing rays invade us:
- Let no light but Beauty's charm us,
- Let no heat but Beauty's warm us;
- Make our artificial light,
- Close and sweet as our delight.
-
- And now, my dear, no longer coy,
- Let us give a thought to joy!
- Then, closely lay thy lips to mine,
- And let our souls and bodies join:
- Let me suck thy balmy breath,
- And fainting, glory in my death.
- Take me dying to thy arms,
- Ah me! I die with pleasing pain,
- O kindle me to life again.
- And now, my brighter Queen of Love,
- I'll confess the stronger Jove.
-
- O happiest transport, dearest blessing,
- Sweetest-rapture past expressing!
- Who can tell the thrilling pleasure,
- When the nymph resigns her treasure!
- When she melts in ripen'd blisses,
- Breathing out her soul in kisses!
- When in Paradise she lies,
- And rolls her pretty dying eyes:
- While the Snake with softer strains,
- Sweetly stings her tickling veins!
- She pants, she sighs, she heaves her charms,
- And locks her vig'rous lover in her arms.
"The Enjoyment" is reprinted
from Poetica Erotica. Ed. T.R. Smith. New York: Crown
Publishers, 1921. |
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POEMS BY WILLIAM PATTISON |
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