T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
“At Noon in a Sultry Summer’s Day”
By Charles Sackville, Earl of Dorset (1638–1706)(c. 1682) AT Noon in a sultry Summer’s Day, | |
| The brightest Lady of the May, | |
| Young Chloris Innocent and Gay, | |
| Sat Knitting in a shade: | |
| Each slender Finger play’d its part, | 5 |
| With such activity and Art; | |
| As wou’d inflame a Youthful Heart, | |
| And warm the most decayed. | |
| Her Fav’rite Swain by chance came by; | |
| She had him quickly in her Eye, | 10 |
| Yet when the bashful Boy drew nigh, | |
| She would have seemed afraid. | |
| She let her Iv’ry Needle fall, | |
| And hurled away the twisted Ball; | |
| Then gave her Strephon such a call, | 15 |
| As would have waked the Dead. | |
| Dear gentle Youth, is’t none but thee? | |
| With Innocence I dare be free; | |
| By so much Trust and Modesty, | |
| No nymph was e’er betrayed. | 20 |
| Come lean thy Head upon my lap, | |
| While thy soft Cheeks I stroke and clap; | |
| Thou may’st securely take a Nap, | |
| Which he, poor Fool, obeyed. | |
| She saw him Yawn, and heard him Snore, | 25 |
| And found him fast asleep all o’er; | |
| She Sighed—and could endure no more, | |
| But starting up she said, | |
| Such Virtue should rewarded be, | |
| For this thy dull Fidelity; | 30 |
| I’ll trust thee with my Flocks, not me, | |
| Pursue thy Grazing Trade; | |
| Go milk thy Goats, and Shear thy Sheep, | |
| And watch all Night thy Flocks, to keep; | |
| Thou shalt no more be lulled asleep | 35 |
| By me mistaken Maid. | |