Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SONG (10), by JOHN WILMOT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SONG (10), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Fair chloris in a pigsty lay
Last Line: She's innocent and pleased.
Alternate Author Name(s): Rochester, 2d Earl Of
Subject(s): Dreams; Love - Erotic; Nightmares


Fair Chloris in a pigsty lay;
Her tender herd lay by her.
She slept; in murmuring gruntlings they,
Complaining of the scorching day,
Her slumbers thus inspire.

She dreamt whilst she with careful pains
Her snowy arms employed
In ivory pails to fill out grains,
One of her love-convicted swains
Thus hasting to her cried:

"Fly, nymph! Oh, fly ere 'tis too late
A dear, loved life to save;
Rescue your bosom pig from fate
Who now expires, hung in the gate
That leads to Flora's cave.

"Myself had tried to set him free
Rather than brought the news,
But I am so abhorred by thee
That ev'n thy darling's life from me
I know thou wouldst refuse."

Struck with the news, as quick she flies
As blushes to her face;
Not the bright lightning from the skies,
Nor love, shot from her brighter eyes,
Move half so swift a pace.

This plot, it seems, the lustful slave
Had laid against her honor,
Which not one god took care to save,
For he pursues her to the cave
And throws himself upon her.

Now pierced is her virgin zone;
She feels the foe within it.
She hears a broken amorous groan,
The panting lover's fainting moan,
Just in the happy minute.

Frighted she wakes, and waking frigs.
Nature thus kindly eased
In dreams raised by her murmuring pigs
And her own thumb between her legs,
She's innocent and pleased.





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