A woman’s commodity.

(Source: gutenberg.org)

In summers heate and mid-time of the day
To rest my limbes upon a bed I lay,
One window shut, the other open stood,
Which gave such light as twinkles in a wood,
Like twilight glimpse at setting of the Sunne,
Or night being past, and yet not day begunne.
Such light to shamefast maidens must be showne,
Where they may sport, and seeme to be unknowne.
Then came Corinna in a long loose gowne,
Her white neck hid with tresses hanging downe,
Resembling fayre Semiramis going to bed,
Or Layis of a thousand lovers sped.
I snatcht her gowne: being thin, the harme was small,
Yet strived she to be covered therewithall.
And striving thus as one that would be cast,
Betrayde her selfe, and yeelded at the last.
Starke naked as she stood before mine eye,
Not one wen in her body could I spie.
What armes and shoulders did I touch and see,
How apt her breasts were to be prest by me.
How smooth a belly under her wast saw I,
How large a legge, and what a lustie thigh?
To leave the rest, all liked me passing well,
I clinged her naked body, downe she fell,
Judge you the rest, being tirde she bad me kisse;
Jove send me more such after-noones as this.

I.

O BLUSH not so! O blush not so! 
Or I shall think you knowing; 
And if you smile the blushing while, 
Then maidenheads are going. 


II.

There’s a blush for won’t, and a blush for shan’t, 
And a blush for having done it: 
There’s a blush for thought and a blush for naught, 
And a blush for just begun it. 


III.

O sigh not so! O sigh not so! 
For it sounds of Eve’s sweet pippin; 
By these loosen’d lips you have tasted the pips 
And fought in an amorous nipping. 


IV.

Will you play once more at nice-cut-core, 
For it only will last our youth out, 
And we have the prime of the kissing time, 
We have not one sweet tooth out. 


V.

There’s a sigh for yes, and a sigh for no, 
And a sigh for I can’t bear it!
O what can be done, shall we stay or run? 
O cut the sweet apple and share it! 

Oft have I heard both Youths and Virgins say,
Birds chuse their Mates, and couple too, this day:
But by their flight I never can divine,
When shall I couple with my Valentine.

Within your magic web of hair, lies furled
 
The fire and splendour of the ancient world;
 
The dire gold of the comet’s wind-blown hair;
 
The songs that turned to gold the evening air
 
When all the stars of heaven sang for joy.
        
The flames that burnt the cloud-high city Troy.
 
The mænad fire of spring on the cold earth;
 
The myrrh-lit flame that gave both death and birth
 
To the soul Phoenix; and the star-bright shower
 
That came to Danaë in her brazen tower…
 
Within your magic web of hair lies furled
 
The fire and splendour of the ancient world.

Oh, when I was in love with you
  Then I was clean and brave,
And miles around the wonder grew
  How well did I behave.
 
And now the fancy passes by,
  And nothing will remain,
And miles around they'll say that I
  Am quite myself again.

seancecafe:

“The white radiance of eternity.” Percy Bysshe Shelley

Love laid his sleepless head 

On a thorny rosy bed;

And his eyes with tears were red, 

And pale his lips as the dead.

And fear and sorrow and scorn

Kept watch by his head forlorn,

Till the night was overworn

And the world was merry with morn.

And Joy came up with the day

And kissed Love’s lips as he lay,

And the watchers ghostly and grey

Sped from his pillow away.

And his eyes as the dawn grew bright,

And his lips waxed ruddy as light:

Sorrow may reign for a night,

But day shall bring back delight.