The Lover, A Ballad

The Lover, A Ballad*

1

At length by so much importunity pressed,

Take (Molly) at once the inside of my breast,

This stupid indifference so often you blame

Is not owing to nature, to fear, or to shame,

I am not as cold as a virgin in lead,

Nor is Sunday’s sermon so strong in my head,

I know but too well how time flies along,

That we live but few years and yet fewer are young.

2

But I hate to be cheated, and never will buy

Long years of repentance for moments of joy. [10]

Oh was there a man (but where shall I find

Good sense, and good nature so equally joined?)

Would value his pleasure, contribute to mine,

Not meanly would boast, nor lewdly design,

Not over severe, yet not stupidly vain,

For I would have the power though not give the pain.

3

No pedant yet learned, not rakehelly gay

Or laughing because he has nothing to say,

To all my whole sex, obliging and free,

Yet never be fond of any but me. [20]

In public preserve the decorums are just

And show in his eyes he is true to his trust,

Then rarely approach, and respectfully bow,

Yet not fulsomely pert, nor yet foppishly low.

4

But when the long hours of public are past

And we meet with champagne and a chicken at last,

May every fond pleasure that hour endear,

Be banished afar both discretion and fear,

Forgetting or scorning the airs of the crowd

He may cease to be formal, and I to be proud, [30]

Till lost in the joy we confess that we live,

And he may be rude, and yet I may forgive.

5

And that my delight may be solidly fixed

Let the friend, and the lover be handsomely mixed,

In whose tender bosom my soul might confide,

Whose kindness can soothe me, whose counsel could guide,

From such a dear lover as here I describe

No danger should fright me, no millions should bribe,

But till this astonishing creature I know,

As I long have lived chaste I will keep myself so. [40]

6

I never will share with the wanton coquette,

Or be caught by a vain affectation of wit.

The toasters, and songsters may try all their art

But never shall enter the pass of my heart;

I loathe the lewd rake, the dressed fopling despise,

Before such pursuers the wise virgin flies,

And as Ovid has sweetly in parables told,

We harden like trees, and like rivers are cold.