From Sportive Wit; the Muses' Merriment, 1656.
A Maiden's Denial.[34]
NAY pish! nay phew! nay, faith and will you? fie!
A gentleman and use me thus! I'll cry.
Nay, God's body, what means this? Nay, fie for shame,
Nay faith, away! Nay, fie, you are to blame.
Hark! somebody comes! hands off, I pray!
I'll pinch, I'll scratch, I'll spurn, I'll run away.
Nay, faith, you strive in vain, you shall not speed
You mar my ruff, you hurt my back, I bleed.
Look how the door stands ope, somebody sees!
Your buttons scratch, in faith you hurt my knees.
What will men say? Lord, what a coil is here!
You make me sweat; i' faith, here's goodly gear.
Nay, faith, let me entreat you, if you list;
You mar my clothes, you tear my smock, but, had I wist
So much before, I would have shut you out.
Is it a proper thing you go about?
I did not think you would have used me this,
But now I see I took my aim amiss.
A little thing would make me not be friends:
You've used me well! I hope you'll make amends.
Hold still, I'll wipe your face, you sweat amain:
You have got a goodly thing with all your pain.
Alas! how hot am I! what will you drink?
If you go sweating down what will men think?
Remember, sir, how you have used me now;
Doubtless ere long I will be meet with you.
If any man but you had used me so,
Would I have put it up? in faith, sir, no.
Nay, go not yet; stay here and sup with me,
And then at cards we better shall agree.
From Sloane MS. 1792. fol. 6.
On Dreams.
YOU nimble dreams, with cobweb wings,
That fly from brain to brain,
And represent a world of things
With much ado and little pain:
You visit ladies in their beds,
And are most busy in their ease;
You put such fancies in their heads
That make them think of what you please.
How highly am I bound to you
(Safe messengers of secrecy)
That made my mistress think on me
Just in the place where I would be!
O that you would me once prefer
To be in place of one of you,
That I might go to visit her
And she might swear her dream were true!