T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
Now Fie on Dreams
Anonymous(From The Percy Folio Manuscript, 1620–50) NOW fye on dreams and fond delights | |
| That occupy the mind! | |
| ’Tis worser for to dream by nights | |
| Than occupy by kind! | |
| For if Cupid thy heart doth strike | 5 |
| With lead or golden flight, | |
| O then, O then, O then, in dreams | |
| Thy thoughts strange things do write! | |
| Methought it was my Chance to Clip | |
| The Creature I loved best, | 10 |
| And all along the fields to trip, | |
| To move some sport or jest, | |
| And then and then, my [suit] I ’gan to plead | |
| Unto that fairest maid; | |
| But she, but she, would nought believe, | 15 |
| Which made me sore afraid. | |
| But yet by prayer and earnest suit | |
| I moved her at the Last; | |
| Yet could I not enjoy the fruit | |
| That hath so pleasing taste. | 20 |
| But when, but when, that motion I betrayed; | |
| She still this answer said, | |
| “O no! O no! O no! I will die | |
| Ere I loose my maiden-head!” | |
| Yet did she give me leave touch | 25 |
| Her foot, her leg, her knee; | |
| A little further was not much, | |
| The way I went was free. | |
| “O fye! O fye! you are to blame!” she said, | |
| Thus to undo a maid; | 30 |
| But yet, but yet, the time is so meet, | |
| (That I am not afraid). | |
| Not Jove himself more jovial was | |
| When he bright Diana won; | |
| Nor Hercules, that all men did pass, | 35 |
| When he with distaff spun, | |
| Than I, than I, all fears when I had past, | |
| And scaled the fort at Last, | |
| And on, and on, and on the same | |
| My signs of victory placed. | 40 |
| But when Aurora, goddess bright, | |
| Appeared from the east, | |
| And Morpheus, that drowsy wight, | |
| Withdrawn him to his rest; | |
| O then, O then, my joys were altered clean! | 45 |
| Which makes me still Complain; | |
| For I awaked, for I awaked, for I awaked; and I fo[und] | |
| All this was but a dream! | |