This said unanimous, and other rites Observing none, but adoration pure Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and eased the putting off Those troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Of purity, and place, and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain But our destroyer, foe to God and Man? Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety

In Paradise, of all things common else!

By thee adult'rous love was driven from men
Among the bestial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reason, loyal, just and pure,
Relations dear, and all the charities

Of father, son, and brother, first were known.
Far be it that I should write thee sin or blame,
Or think the unbefitting holiest place
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,
Present or past, as saints and patriarchs used!
Here love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

Casual fruition: nor in court amours

Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
Or serenade, which the starved lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
These lulled by nightingales embracing slept,
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on,
Blest pair! and, O! yet happiest if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more!

The Unfortunate Miller

ANONYMOUS. 1685. BAGFORD BALLADS. PT. III
ALL you that desire to hear of a jest,
Come listen awhile, and it shall be exprest;
It is of a Miller that lived very near,

The like of this ditty you never did hear,

A handsome young Damsel she came to his mill, To have her corn ground with a ready good will,

As soon as he saw her fair beauty so bright,
He caused this young Damsel to tarry all night.
Said he, my dear jewel, it will be near morn,
Before my man Lawrence can grind my dear's corn,
And therefore if thou wilt be ruled by me,
At home in my parlour thy lodging shall be,
For I am enflamed with thy amorous charms,
And therefore this night thou shalt sleep in my arms,
I swear it, and therefore it needs must be so,
It is but in vain for to answer me no.

At this the young Damsel so blushing did stand,
But straightways the master took her by the hand,
And leading her home to young Gillian his wife,
Said he, my sweet honey, the joy of my life,
Be kind to this maid, for her father I know,
And let her lie here in the parlour below,
Stout Lawrence my servant, and I, we shall stay
All night in the mill till the dawning of day.
To what he desired she straightways agreed,
And then to the mill he did hasten with speed,
He ready was there to leap out of his skin,
To think of the bed which he meant to lie in;
Now when he was gone, the maid told his intent
To Gillian, and they a new project invent,
By which they well fitted this crafty young blade;
The miller by Lawrence a cuckold was made.

The maid and his wife they changed bed for that night,
So that when the miller came for his delight,
Straightway to the parlour bed he did repair,
Instead of the Damsel, wife Gillian was there,
Which he did imagine had been the young lass,
When after some hours in pleasure they past,
He rose, and returned to the mill like one wild,
For fear he hath got the young Damsel with child.
Then to his man Lawrence the miller did say,

I have a young damsel both bonny and gay,

Her eyes are like diamonds, her cheeks sweet and fair,
They may with the Rose and the Lily compare,
Her lips they are like the rich coral for red,

This lass is at home in my parlour in bed,
And if you go home you may freely enjoy
With her the sweet pleasure, for she is not coy.

His master's kind proffer he did not refuse,

But was brisk and airy, and pleased with the news,
But said, to yourself much beholding I am,
But for a requital I'll give you my ram;

This done, lusty Lawrence, away home he goes,

And stript off his coat, breeches, likewise shoes and hose.
And went into bed with young Gillian his dame;
Yet Lawrence for that was not worthy of blame.

He little imagined his dame was in bed,

And therefore his heart was the freer from dread,
The minutes in pastime and pleasure they spent,
Unknown to them both, she enjoyed true content,
Now after a while he his dame had embraced,
He rose and returned to the mill in all haste,
Telling his master of all the delight,

Which he had enjoyed with that damsel this night.

Next morning the maid to the mill did repair,
The miller and Lawrence his servant was there,
His master then whispered this word in her ear,
"How like you to lie with a miller, my dear?"
At this the young damsel then laughing out right;
And said, I changed beds with young Gillian last night:
If you enjoyed any it was your sweet wife,

For my part, I ne'er lay with a man in my life.

At this he began for to rave, stamp and stare,
Both scratching his elbows and pulling his hair,
And like one distracted about he did run,
And often times crying, Ha! what have I done,
Was ever poor miller so finely betrayed,
By Lawrence, my man, I am a cuckold made.
The Damsel she laughed and was pleased in her mind,
And said he was very well served in his kind.

The Hasty Bridegroom: Or

The rarest sport that hath been try'd
Between a lusty bridegroom and his bride

FROM ROXBURGHE BALLADS, 1674-81, II. 208

COME from the Temple, away to the Bed,
As the Merchant transports home his Treasure;
Be not so coy, Lady, since we are wed,

'Tis no Sin to taste of the Pleasure:

Then come let us be blithe, merry and free,

Upon my life all the waiters are gone;

And 'tis so, that they know where you go, say not

So,

For I mean to make bold with my own.

What is it to me, though our Hands joined be,
If our Bodies are still kept asunder:

It shall not be said, there goes a marry'd Maid,
Indeed we will have no such wonder:

Therefore let's embrace, there's none sees thy face,

The Bride-Maids that waited are gone;

None can spy how you lie, ne'er deny but say I,

For I mean to make bold with my own.

Then come let us Kiss, and taste of that bliss,
Which brave Lords and Ladies enjoy'd;
If Maidens should be of the humour of thee,
Generations would soon be destroy'd:

Then where were those Joys, the Girls and the
Boys,

Would'st live in the World all alone;

Don't destroy, but enjoy, seem not Coy for a Toy, For indeed I'll make bold with my own.

Sweet Love, do not frown, but put off thy gown, 'Tis a Garment unfit for the Night;

Some say that Black hath a relishing smack,

I had rather be dealing in White:

Then be not afraid, for you are not betray'd. Since we two are together alone;

I invite you this Night, to do right, my delight
Is forthwith to make use of my own.

Prithee begin, don't delay but unpin,
For my Honour I cannot prevent it;

You are straight lac'd, and your Georgette's so fast,
Undo it, or I straight will rend it:

Or to end all the strife, I'll cut it a Knife,

'Tis too long to stay 'til it's undone;

Let thy Waist be unlac'd, and in haste be embrac'd,

For I do long to make bold with my own.

Feel with your hand how you make me to stand,
Even ready to starve in the cold,

Oh, why shouldst thou be, so hard-hearted to me,
That loves thee more dear than gold:

And as thou hast been, like fair Venus the Queen, Most pleasant in thy parts every one,

Let me find that thy mind is inclin'd to be kind, So that I may make bold with my own.

As thou art fair, and more sweet than the air,
That dallies on July's brave Roses;

Now let me be to that Garden a Key,
That the Flowers of Virgins incloses:

And I will not be too rough unto thee,
For my Nature unto boldness is prone;

Do no less than undress, and unlace all apace,
For this Night I'll make use with my own.

When I have found thee temperate and sound,
Thy sweet breast I will make for my pillow
'Tis pity that we which newly married be,
Should be forced to wear the green willow;

We shall be blest and live sweetly at rest,
Now we are united in one:

With content and consent I am bent, my intent Is this Night to make use of my own.

THE LADY'S LOVING REPLY

Welcome, dear love, all the powers above,
Are well pleased of our happy meeting
The Heavens have decreed, and the Earth's agreed
That I should embrace my own sweeting.

At bed and at board both in deed and in word
My affection to thee shall be shown:

Thou art mine, I am thine, let us join, and combine,
I'll not bar thee from what is thy own.

Our Bride-beds made, thou shalt be my comrade
For to lodge in my arms all the night,

Where thou shalt enjoy, being free from annoy
All the sports wherein love takes delight.

Our mirth shall be crown'd, and our triumph re-
nown'd,

Then sweetheart let thy valor be shown,

Take thy fill, do thy will, use thy skill, welcome still,

Why should'st thou not make bold with thy own?

The Bridegroom and Bride, with much joy on each side Then together to bed they did go,

But what they did there, I did neither see nor hear,

Nor do I desire not to know,

But by Cupid's aid, they being well laid,

They made sport by themselves all alone,

Being plac'd, and unlac'd, He uncas'd, she embrac'd,

Then he stoutly made use of his own.

The Surprising Lover

from wit at a venture: or clio's PRIVY GARDEN, 1674 LOVE, in rambling once astray,

Was benighted in his way;

With cold and tiresome cares opprest,

He creeps in fair Lucina's breast

To shelter there and take his rest.

The nymph, not dreaming of her fate,

And of an unexpected guess

Much less,

To come so late,

Slept on: the youth, recov'ring heat,
Prepares his arms to try a feat.

The deed scarce done, the nymph awakes
And in the act the youngster takes,
Strangely surprised, yet well contented too
That she enjoyed so sweet a bed-fellow.
Then, viewing well her guess all o'er,
She liked his presence more and more;