When Sarah Jane, the moral miss, Declares ’tis very wrong to kiss, I’ll bet a shilling I see through it: The damsel, fairly understood, Feels just as any Christian should,— She’d rather _suffer_ wrong than _do it_. SAXE. THE DIFFERENCE. “I never give a kiss,” says Prue, “To naughty man, for I abhor it.” She will not _give_ a kiss, ’tis true: She’ll _take_ one, though, and thank you for it.[30] MOORE. MODESTY. “Kiss me, dear maid, to seal the vow Of love that you have made.” “I have no _right_ to kiss you now,” The modest maiden said. “If you can find it in your heart My first wish to refuse, Perhaps ’tis best that we should part Ere we our freedom lose.” “Although to kiss _you_ I demur, Yet please to recollect That if you choose to kiss _me_, sir, Of course, I—can’t object.” FOOLISH ROBIN. “Come kiss me,” said Robin. I gently said, “No! For my mother forbade me to play with men so.” Abashed by my answer, he glided away, Though my looks very plainly advised him to stay. Silly swain, not at all recollecting—not he— That _his_ mother ne’er said that he must not kiss _me_. THE PRINTER’S KISSES. _Print_ on my lips another kiss, The picture of thy glowing passion; Nay, this won’t do—nor this—nor this— But now—Ah, that’s a _proof impression_! But yet, methinks, it might be mended— Oh, yes, I see it in those eyes; Our lips again together blended Will make the _impression_ a REVISE. TULIPS AND ROSES. My Rosa from the latticed grove Brought me a sweet bouquet of posies, And asked, as round my neck she clung, If _tulips_ I preferred to _roses_. “I cannot tell, sweet wife,” I sighed, “But kiss me ere I see the posies:” She did. “Oh, I prefer,” I cried, “Your _two lips_ to a dozen roses.” SEALING AN OATH. “Do you,” said Fanny, t’other day, “In earnest love me as you say? Or are those tender words applied Alike to fifty girls beside?” “Dear, cruel girl,” cried I, “forbear; For by those eyes—those _lips_—I swear!” She stopped me as the oath I took, And cried, “You’ve sworn—_now kiss the book_.” MOUSTACHES. Kate hates moustaches; so much hair Makes every man look like a bear; But Nellie, whom no thought could fetter, Pouts out, “The more like bears the better, Because” (her pretty shoulders shrugging) “Bears are such glorious chaps for hugging.” THE ANCIENT MAIDEN’S LAMENT. I have a mouth for kisses, No one to give or to take; I have a heart in my bosom Beating for nobody’s sake. THE STAKES. The following playful lines of Strode first appeared in a little volume entitled “New Court Songs and Poems,” printed in 1672, and were reproduced in Dryden’s “Miscellany,” 1716: