The Willing Mistress

Aphra Behn 1640 – 1689



Amyntas led me to a Grove,
Where all the Trees did shade us;
The Sun it self, though it had Strove,
It could not have betray'd us:
The place secur'd from humane Eyes,
No other fear allows,
But when the Winds that gently rise,
Doe Kiss the yielding Boughs.

Down there we satt upon the Moss,
And did begin to play
A Thousand Amorous Tricks, to pass
The heat of all the day.
A many Kisses he did give:
And I return'd the same
Which made me willing to receive
That which I dare not name.
His Charming Eyes no Aid requir'd
To tell their softning Tale;
On her that was already fir'd,
'Twas Easy to prevaile.
He did but Kiss and Clasp me round,
Whilst those his thoughts Exprest:
And lay'd me gently on the Ground:
Ah who can guess the rest?

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on April 29, 2023

45 sec read
248

Quick analysis:

Scheme ABABCDCD XEXEXFXFGXGEHGHX
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 719
Words 145
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 8, 16

Aphra Behn

Aphra Behn was a prolific dramatist of the English Restoration, the first English professional female literary writer. more…

All Aphra Behn poems | Aphra Behn Books

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