Happy Birthday, Dryden

Kneller, John Dryden, 1697

Calm was the even, and clear was the sky,

      And the new budding flowers did spring,

When all alone went Amyntas and I

      To hear the sweet nightingale sing;

I sate, and he laid him down by me;

      But scarcely his breath he could draw;

For when with a fear, he began to draw near,

      He was dash'd with A ha ha ha ha!

He blush'd to himself, and lay still for a while,

      And his modesty curb'd his desire;

But straight I convinc'd all his fear with a smile,

      Which added new flames to his fire.

O Silvia, said he, you are cruel,

      To keep your poor lover in awe;

Then once more he press'd with his hand to my breast,

      But was dash'd with A ha ha ha ha!

I knew 'twas his passion that caus'd all his fear;

      And therefore I pitied his case:

I whisper'd him softly, there's nobody near,

      And laid my cheek close to his face:

But as he grew bolder and bolder,

      A shepherd came by us and saw;

And just as our bliss we began with a kiss,

      He laugh'd out with A ha ha ha ha!

John Dryden, born on this day in 1631