Ben Jonson: Begging Another

Begging Another,
On Colour of Mending the Former
by Ben Jonson

For Love's sake, kiss me once again,
I long, and should not beg in vain,
Here's none to spy or see ;
Why do you doubt or stay?
I'll taste as lightly as the bee,
That doth but touch his flower, and flies away.

Once more, and, faith, I will be gone,
Can he that loves ask less than one ?
Nay, you may err in this,
And all your bounty wrong :
This could be called but half a kiss,
What we're but once to do, we should do long.

I will but mend the last, and tell
Where, how it would have relished well ;
Join lip to lip, and try :
Each suck the other's breath,
And whilst our tongues perplexed lie,
Let who will think us dead, or wish our death.

Source:
Jonson, Ben. The Works of Ben Jonson, vol. 3.
London: Chatto & Windus, 1910. 282.

Venus and Adonis, 1620-78. Jacob Jordaens.

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