Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE SURPRISE, by CHARLES COTTON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE SURPRISE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: On a clear river's flow'ry side
Last Line: With her soft pity, than her eyes before.
Subject(s): Love


I

ON a clear river's flow'ry side,
When Earth was in her gaudy pride,
Defended by the friendly shade
A woven grove's dark entrails made,
Where the cold clay, with flowers strew'd
Made up a pleasing solitude;
'Twas there I did my glorious Nymph surprise,
There stole my passion from her killing eyes.

II

The happy object of her eye
Was Sidney's living Arcady;
Whose amorous tale had so betray'd
Desire in this all-lovely Maid;
That, whilst her cheek a blush did warm,
I read Love's story in her form:
And of the Sisters the united grace,
Pamela's vigour in Philoclea's face.

III

As on the brink this Nymph did sit,
(Ah! who can such a Nymph forget?)
The floods straight dispossessed their foam,
Proud so her mirror to become;
And ran into a twirling maze,
On her by that delay to gaze,
And as they passed, by streams succeeding force,
In losing her, murmur'd t' obey their course.

IV

She read not long, but clos'd the book,
And up her silent lute she took,
Perchance to charm each wanton thought,
Youth, or her reading had begot,
The hollow carcass echo'd such
Airs, as had birth from Orpheus' touch,
And every snowy finger, as she play'd
Danc'd to the music that themselves had made.

V

At last she ceas'd; her odorous bed
With her enticing limbs she spread,
With limbs so excellent, I could
No more resist my factious blood:
But there, ah! there, I caught the Dame,
And boldly urg'd to her my flame:
I kiss'd: when her ripe lips at every touch
Swell'd up to meet, what she would shun so much.

VI

I kiss'd, and play'd in her bright eyes,
Discours'd, as is the Lover's guise,
Call'd her the Auth'ress of my woe:
The Nymph was kind, but would not do,
Faith, she was kind, which made me bold,
Grow hot, as her denials cold.
But ah! at last I parted wounded more
With her soft pity, than her eyes before.





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