T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
An Imitation of Chaucer
By Alexander Pope (1688–1744)| WOMEN ben full of ragerie, | |
| Yet swinken not sans secresie. | |
| Thilke Moral shall ye understond, | |
| From schoole-boy’s Tale of fayre Irelond; | |
| Which to the Fennes hath him betake, | 5 |
| To filche the grey Ducke fro the Lake. | |
| Right then there passen by the way | |
| His Aunt, and eke her Daughters tway. | |
| Ducke in his trowses hath he hent, | |
| Not to be spied of ladies gent. | 10 |
| But ho! our Nephew, crieth one; | |
| Ho! quoth another, Cozen John; | |
| And stoppen, and lough, and callen out— | |
| This sely Clerke full low doth lout: | |
| They asken that, and talken this, | 15 |
| Lo, here is Coz, and here is Miss. | |
| But, as he glozeth with speeches soote, | |
| The Ducke sore tickleth his Erse-roote: | |
| Fore-piece and buttons all-to-brest, | |
| Forth thrust a white neck and red crest, | 20 |
| Te-hee, cried ladies; clerks nought spake; | |
| Miss stared, and grey Ducke crieth Quaake. | |
| O Moder, Moder! quoth the Daughter, | |
| Be thilke same thing Maids longen a’ter? | |
| Bette is to pine on coals and chalke, | 25 |
| Then trust on Mon whose yerde can talke. | |