Classic Poem

The shepherd Paris bore the Spartan bride
By force away, and then by force enjoyed;
But I by free consent can boast a bliss,
A fairer Helen, and a sweeter kiss. Chloris
Kisses are empty joys, and soon are o'er. Daphnis
A kiss betwixt the lips is something more. Chloris
I wipe my mouth, and where's your kissing then? Daphnis
I swear you wipe it to be kissed again. Chloris
Go tend your herd, and kiss your cows at home;
I am a maid, and in my beauties' bloom. Daphnis
'Tis well remembered: do not waste your time,
But wisely use it ere you pass your prime. Chloris
Blown roses hold their sweetness to the last,
And raisins keep their luscious native taste. Daphnis
The sun's too hot; those olive shades are near:
I fain would whisper something in your ear. Chloris
'Tis honest talking where we may be seen;
God knows what secret mischief you may mean.
I doubt you'll play the wag, and kiss again. Daphnis
At least beneath yon elm you need not fear;
My pipe's in tune, if you're disposed to hear. Chloris
Play by yourself: I dare not venture thither;
You and your naughty pipe go hang together. Daphnis
Coy nymph beware, lest Venus you offend. Chloris
I shall have chaste Diana still to friend. Daphnis
You have a soul, and Cupid has a dart. Chloris
Diana will defend, or heal my heart.
Nay, fie; what mean you in this open place!
Unhand me, or I swear I'll scratch your face.
Let go, for shame, you make me mad for spite;
My mouth's my own, and if you kiss I'll bite. Daphnis
Away with your dissembling female tricks;
What, would you scape the fate of all your sex? Chloris
I swear I'll keep my maidenhead till death,
And die as pure as Queen Elizabeth. Daphnis
Nay, mum for that; but let me lay thee down:
Better with me, than with some nauseous clown. Chloris
I'd have you know, if I were so inclined
I have been wooed by many a wealthy hind,
But never found a husband to my mind. Daphnis
But they are absent all, and I am here. Chloris
The matrimonial yoke is hard to bear,
And " marriage" is a woeful word to hear. Daphnis
A scarecrow, set to frighten fools away;
Marriage has joys, and you shall have a say. Chloris
Sour sauce is often mixed with our delight;
You kick by day more than you kiss by night. Daphnis
Sham stories all; but say the worst you can,
A very wife fears neither God nor man. Chloris
But childbirth is, they say, a deadly pain;
It costs at least a month to knit again. Daphnis
Diana cures the wounds Lucina made;
Your goddess is a midwife by her trade. Chloris
But I shall spoil my beauty if I bear. Daphnis
But " Mam" and " Dad" are pretty names to hear. Chloris
But there's a civil question used of late:
Where lies my jointure, where your own estate? Daphnis
My flocks, my fields, my wood, my pastures take,
With settlement as good as law can make. Chloris
Swear then you will not leave me on the common,
But marry me, and make an honest woman. Daphnis
I swear by Pan (though he wears horns, you'll say),
Cudgelled and kicked, I'll not be forced away. Chloris
I bargain for a wedding bed at least,
A house, and handsome lodging for a guest. Daphnis
A house well furnished shall be thine to keep,
And for a flock-bed I can shear my sheep. Chloris
What tale shall I to my old father tell? Daphnis
'Twill make him chuckle thou'rt bestowed so well. Chloris
But after all, in troth I am to blame,
To be so loving ere I know your name.
A pleasant-sounding name's a pretty thing. Daphnis
Faith, mine's a very pretty name to sing:
They call me Daphnis; Lycidas my sire;
Both sound as well as woman can desire.
Nomaea bore me; farmers in degree,
He a good husband, a good housewife she. Chloris
Your kindred is not much amiss, 'tis true,
Yet I am somewhat better born than you. Daphnis
I know your father and his family,
And, without boasting, am as good as he —
Menalcas, and no master goes before. Chloris
Hang both our pedigrees, not one word more;
But if you love me, let me see your living,
Your house and home: for seeing is believing. Daphnis
See first yon cypress grove, a shade from noon. Chloris
Browse on, my goats, for I'll be with you soon. Daphnis
Feed well, my bulls, to whet your appetite,
That each may take a lusty leap at night. Chloris
What do you mean, uncivil as you are,
To touch my breasts, and leave my bosom bare? Daphnis
These pretty bubbies first I make my own. Chloris
Pull out your hand, I swear, or I shall swoon. Daphnis
Why does thy ebbing blood forsake thy face? Chloris
Throw me at least upon a cleaner place:
My linen ruffled, and my waistcoat soiling,
What, do you think new clothes were made for spoiling? Daphnis
I'll lay my lambskins underneath thy back. Chloris
My headgear's off: what filthy work you make! Daphnis
To Venus first I lay these offerings by. Chloris
Nay, first look round that nobody be nigh:
Methinks I hear a whispering in the grove. Daphnis
The cypress trees are telling tales of love. Chloris
You tear off all behind me, and before me,
And I'm as naked as my mother bore me. Daphnis
I'll buy thee better clothes than these I tear,
And lie so close I'll cover thee from air. Chloris
Y' are liberal now, but when your turn is sped,
You'll wish me choked with every crust of bread. Daphnis
I'll give thee more, much more than I have told;
Would I could coin my very heart to gold. Chloris
Forgive thy handmaid, huntress of the wood,
I see there's no resisting flesh and blood! Daphnis
The noble deed is done: my herds I'll cull;
Cupid, be thine a calf, and Venus, thine a bull. Chloris
A maid I came, in an unlucky hour,
But hence return without my virgin flower. Daphnis
A maid is but a barren name at best;
If thou canst hold, I bid for twins at least.

Thus did this happy pair their love dispense
With mutual joys, and gratified their sense;
The god of love was there a bidden guest,
And present at his own mysterious feast.
His azure mantle underneath he spread,
And scattered roses on the nuptial bed;
While folded in each other's arms they lay,
He blew the flames, and furnished out the play,
And from their foreheads wiped the balmy sweat away.
First rose the maid, and with a glowing face
Her downcast eyes beheld her print upon the grass;
Thence to her herd she sped herself in haste:
The bridegroom started from his trance at last,
And piping homeward jocundly he passed.