George J. Dance
2018-02-16 22:47:27 UTC
I spent part of the day on the PPP wik, redoing the article on Thomas Nashe and importing and editing one on his poem, "Choosing a Valentine". The poem itself is quite long, but I thought some readers might enjoy the synopsis, which I cobbled together from 2 different sources:
Synopsis
The Choice of Valentines describes the Valentine's Day visit of a young man named "Tomalin" to his lover, "Mistris Francis".[7] As it is Valentine's Day, Tomalin goes to seek Frances where she lives in the country, but discovers that she has been driven away by the local authorities and now resides in a brothel in the city. He enters the brothel, posing as a customer, and is offered other women by its Madame, but it is his lover that Tomalin really wants to see, even though it will cost him more.
Having paid 10 gold pieces for her favors, Tomalin makes his way towards his erotic goal.
And make me happie, stealing by degrees.
First bare hir legs, then creepe up to her knees ...[7]
The object of his desire, "A pretty rising womb", is revealed. Unfortunately Tomalin finds the moment so exciting that he "spends" his all before the "fight" has begun. Mistress Frances is disappointed and does what she can to revive things.
"Unhappyie me," quoth she, "and wilt not stand?
Com, let me rubb and chafe it with my hand!"[7]
She perseveres in arousing him, is successful, and they make love. This begins a lengthy and witty erotic passage. During intercourse, she admonishes Tomalin to slow down and sets a rhythm more amenable to her own sexual gratification. Tomalin eventually climaxes, and his lover appears to climax as well, but soon expresses that she is not fully satisfied.
Mistress Frances then decides to take matters into her own hands, and reaches for the device of the poem's informal title, Nashe's Dildo.[7]
My little dildo shall suplye their kind,
A knave that moves as light as leaves by winde;
That bendeth not, nor fouldeth anie deale,
But stands as stiff as he were made of steele,
And plays at peacock twixt my leggs right blythe.[12]
This poem comes to an end with Tomalin ranting against the “Eunike dilldo” that has taken his place.[7]
Other stuff, including a link to the poem in full:
http://pennyspoetry.wikia.com/wiki/The_Choice_of_Valentines
Synopsis
The Choice of Valentines describes the Valentine's Day visit of a young man named "Tomalin" to his lover, "Mistris Francis".[7] As it is Valentine's Day, Tomalin goes to seek Frances where she lives in the country, but discovers that she has been driven away by the local authorities and now resides in a brothel in the city. He enters the brothel, posing as a customer, and is offered other women by its Madame, but it is his lover that Tomalin really wants to see, even though it will cost him more.
Having paid 10 gold pieces for her favors, Tomalin makes his way towards his erotic goal.
And make me happie, stealing by degrees.
First bare hir legs, then creepe up to her knees ...[7]
The object of his desire, "A pretty rising womb", is revealed. Unfortunately Tomalin finds the moment so exciting that he "spends" his all before the "fight" has begun. Mistress Frances is disappointed and does what she can to revive things.
"Unhappyie me," quoth she, "and wilt not stand?
Com, let me rubb and chafe it with my hand!"[7]
She perseveres in arousing him, is successful, and they make love. This begins a lengthy and witty erotic passage. During intercourse, she admonishes Tomalin to slow down and sets a rhythm more amenable to her own sexual gratification. Tomalin eventually climaxes, and his lover appears to climax as well, but soon expresses that she is not fully satisfied.
Mistress Frances then decides to take matters into her own hands, and reaches for the device of the poem's informal title, Nashe's Dildo.[7]
My little dildo shall suplye their kind,
A knave that moves as light as leaves by winde;
That bendeth not, nor fouldeth anie deale,
But stands as stiff as he were made of steele,
And plays at peacock twixt my leggs right blythe.[12]
This poem comes to an end with Tomalin ranting against the “Eunike dilldo” that has taken his place.[7]
Other stuff, including a link to the poem in full:
http://pennyspoetry.wikia.com/wiki/The_Choice_of_Valentines