They talked of three beauties whose converse was quite ✿ Like the talk of a man with experience dight:
Three maidens who borrowed the bloom of the dawn ✿ Making hearts of their lovers in sorriest plight.
They were hidden from eyes of the prier and spy ✿ Who slept and their modesty mote not affright;
So they opened whatever lay hid in their hearts ✿ And in frolicsome fun began verse to indite.
Quoth one fair coquette with her amorous grace ✿ Whose teeth for the sweet of her speech flashèd bright:—
Would he come to my bed during sleep ’twere delight ✿ But a visit on wake were delightsomer sight!
When she ended, her verse by her smiling was gilt: ✿ Then the second ’gan singing as nightingale might:—
Naught came to salute me in sleep save his shade ✿ But welcome, fair welcome, I cried to the spright!
But the third I preferred for she said in reply, ✿ With expression most apposite, exquisite:—
My soul and my folk I engage for the youth ✿ Musk-scented I see in my bed every night!