Such modest blushes stain'd his comely face, That sure no virgin-innocence could guess, by his kind looks, of ev'ry grace possest, That he could harbour evil in his breast.

"Bless me," said I, "Philander, what d'ye mean?

"How come you hither? — Pray, who let you in?

"Undrest! — Tis rudeness to approach my bed:

"Consider, dearest youth, that I'm a maid.

"You'll catch your death; for Heaven's sake retire;

"The weather's cold, and I have got no fire,"

With that between the sheets one leg he thrust, Mix'd it with mine, and sighing said, "I must!"

Then clasp'd me in his arms: I strove to squeak, But found I had no power to stir or speak;

My blood confus'dly in its channels ran, My body was all pulse, my breath near gone;

My cheeks inflam'd, distorted were mine eyes, My breast swell'd out with passion and surprise.

And still in vain I strove to make a noise, Something, methought, I felt that stopp'd my voice, And did at last such tides of joy impart, That glided through each vein, and fill'd my heart, Recall'd my dying senses back again, And with a flood of pleasure drown'd my pain.

Thus, for a time, I lay dissolved in bliss, As if translated into Paradise;

But as no drowsy virgin e'er could find Delight so charming and a youth so kind, And not awake, when on a sudden bless'd With melting joys, too great to be express'd;

So I, unable to preserve so strong,

An impress of my dear Philander long,

— Awak'd, much frighted, felt about my bed, But found, alas! my loving Ariel fled, And all those luscious pleasures gone and past.

Which seem'd, indeed, too exquisite to last.

I mourn'd the loss, yet felt some small remains Of the kind warmth still sporting in my veins;

Although my love was vanish'd, yet I vow, I felt myself all o'er I know not how;