AN IDYL.
DAMŒTUS is a boy as rude
As ever broke maid’s solitude.
One morning he saw Phillis going
Where the wild raspberries were growing,
And, under a pretence of fear
Lest they might scratch her arms, drew near;
Then, pulling up a stiff grey bent,
The fruit, scarce touching it, he sent
Into both hands: the form they took
Of a boat’s keel upon a brook;
So not a raspberry fell down
To balk her aim or splash her gown.
When it was over, for his pains
She let his lips do off the stains,
And lookt down on his head, while he
First kist two fingers, then kist three,
And, to be certain every stain
Had vanisht, kist them o’er again.
At last the boy, quite shameless, said
“I have here taken out the red,
Now, where there’s riper richer fruit
Pray, gentle Phillis, let me do’t.”
“Audacious creature! ‘‘ she cried out,
“What in the world are you about?”
He had not taken out the red..
All over both her cheeks ’twas spred;
And both her lips, that should be white
With fear.. if not with fear, with spite
At such ill usage, never show’d
More comely nor more deeply glow’d.
Damœtus fancied he could move
The girl to listen to his love;
Not he.
She said, “For pity’s sake,
Go; never more come near this brake.
The boldest thing I ever knew,
Impudent boy! was done by you;
And when you are a little older,
By Dian! you may do a bolder.”