That I pursued you Celia , with such haste,
Was from this Reason that you fled so fast.
That you your self a Savage Beauty shew,
Was the first Motive that I chas'd you so.
But, as wild things, whom our best Game we call,
I follow Thee, wild Thing, but for thy Fall.
I for my Pleasure took such Pains alone;
And held thee in Pursuit to run thee down:
Yet aiming not to make a barb'rous Chace,
Not to destroy, but propagate thy Race.

Let me not tax thee, that thou sought'st the Grove
To shun my Passion, but to meet my Love.
Here we might act our Transports on the Green,
And sport uninterrupted, and unseen.
Where, for the weary, panting Pair, is spread
A ready, easie, soft, refreshing Bed.
Where Shades, and Silence make it seem like Night,
And the kind Gloom excludes the Rival's Sight.
Where Turtles to our Love Example shew,
And all Day long in mutual Cooings wooe.
Where e'en, that Spy, the Sun can never come,
To be to bashful Lovers troublesome.
Where nothing can a fear'd Admittance gain,
The Freedom of our Transports to restrain.
But ev'rything, the Shade, and Noon-day Night.
And rev'rend Silence do to Love invite.
Where Trees with interwoven Arms we find,
That seem, like us, in soft Embraces twin'd.
Where bending Boughs with gentle Breezes move
To fan the Ardours of our glowing Love.
Where Waters, bubbling from the Chrystal Springs,
Mix with our am'rous Sighs their Murmurings.

Then do not, Celia , needless Doubts create,
Nor disappoint th' Indulgence of our Fate.
Those Feet, that wing'd you, did your Flight impede,
And you became my Prey but thro' your Speed.
Those Feet that, as the Deer's, design'd your Aid,
In your Escape your Safety more betray'd.
Then plead not Duty, and Connubial Love,
My happy Seizure does my Title prove,
And the vain Plea of Nuptial Rights remove.
Thus, tho' another's Game, thou'rt now my own,
My lawful Game, who toil'd to run Thee down.
Tho' Thou within the Pale of Marriage be,
The Law has settled no Propriety;
I mean, the Law both of the Chace and Field,
For gamesome Things, like Thee, by Nature wild.