Johannes Secundus Poems

When young Ascanius, by the Queen of Love,
Was born to sweet Cythera's lofty grove,
His languid limbs upon a couch she laid,
A fragrant couch! of new-blown vi'lets made;
...

As round some neighbouring elm the vine
Its am'rous tendrils loves to twine;
As round the oak, in many a maze,
The ivy flings its gadding sprays:
...

'One Kiss, enchanting Maid!' (I cry'd;)-
One little Kiss! and then adieu!
Your lips, with luscious crimson dyed,
...

'Tis not a Kiss you give, my Love!
'Tis richest nectar from above!
A fragrant show'r of balmy dews,
Which thy sweet lips alone diffuse!
...

While you, Neæra, close entwine
In frequent folds your frame with mine;
And hanging o'er, to view confest,
Your neck, and gently-heaving breast;
...

Two Thousand Kisses of the sweetest kind,
'Twas once agreed, our mutual love should bind;
First from my lips a rapt'rous Thousand flow'd,
...

Kisses told by Hundreds o'er!
Thousands told by Thousands more!
Millions! countless Millions! then
Told by Millions o'er again!
...

Ah! what ungovern'd rage, declare,
Neæra, too capricious Fair!
What unreveng'd, unguarded wrong,
Could urge thee thus to wound my tongue?
...

Cease thy sweet, thy balmy Kisses;
Cease thy many-wreathed smiles;
Cease thy melting, murm'ring blisses;
...

In various Kisses various charms I find,
For changeful fancy loves each changeful kind:
Whene'er with mine thy humid lips unite,
Then humid Kisses with their sweet delight;
...