1631. Drayton, The Mooncalf (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, iv., 133). Hug him, and swear he was her only joy.
1637. Beaumont and Fletcher, Elder Brother, iv., 1. This night I’ll hug my Lilly in my arms.
d. 1649. Drummond, Posthumous Poems, ‘Of a Kiss.’ Nor her who had the fate Ravis’d to be and hugged on Ganges’ shore.
1659. Lady Alimony, iv. (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 288a). Shall we hug none of our own, But such as drop from the frigid zone.
c. 1708. W. King, The Art of Love, Pt. iv. (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, ix., 266). Then hugging her in brawny arm.
d. 1710. R. Duke, Poems, ‘A Song’ (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, ix., 224). Close hugs the charmer, and ashamed to yield, Though he has lost the day yet keeps the field. Idem. She hugs the dart that wounded her, and dies.
d. 1742. Somerville, Occasional Poems, etc., ‘The Fortune-Hunter,’ canto iii. (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, xi., 221). Drinks double bub with all his might And hugs his doxy every night.
1746. Smollett, Advice, line 4. We’ll hug the curse that not one joy can boast.
d. 1764. Lloyd, Poems (1774), ‘The Cit’s County Box.’ Hugging themselves in ease and clover.
d. 1773. G. Cunningham, Poems, ‘Holiday-Gown’ (Chalmers, English Poets, 1810, xiv., 441). He hugs me so close, and he kisses so sweet.