Томас Гент (Thomas Gent)

To a Fly, on the Bosom of Chloe, While Sleeping

Come away, come away, little fly!
  Don't disturb the sweet calm of love's nest:
If you do, I protest you shall die,
  And your tomb be that beautiful breast.

Don't tickle the girl in her sleep,
  Don't cause so much beauty to sigh;
If she frown, all the Graces will weep;
  If she weep, half the Graces will die.

Pretty fly! do not tickle her so;
  How delighted to teaze her you seem;
Titillation is dangerous, I know,
  And may cause the dear creature to dream.

She may dream of some horrible brute,
  Of some genii, or fairy-built spot;
Or perhaps the prohibited fruit,
  Or perhaps of––I cannot tell what.

Now she 'wakes! steal a kiss and begone;
  Life is precious; away, little fly!
Should your rudeness provoke her to scorn,
  You'll meet death from the glance of her eye.

Were I ask'd by fair Chloe to say
  How I felt, as the flutt'rer I chid;
I should own, as I drove it away,
  I wish'd to be there in it's stead.