FORD.
She never used, my lord,
A second means, but kissed the letter first,
O’erlooked the superscription, then let fall
Some amorous drops, kissed it again, talked to it
Twenty times over, set it to her mouth,
Then gave it to me, then snatched it back again,
Then cried, “Oh, my poor heart!” and, in an instant,
“Commend my truth and secrecy.” Such medley
Of passion yet I never saw in woman.
Lady’s Trial.
Piero. Does not yourself know, lady?
Amoretta. I do not uthe
To thpen lip-labor upon quethtionths
That I mythelf can anthwer.
Futelli. No, sweet madam,
Your lips are destined to a better use,
Or else the proverb fails of lisping maids.
Amoretta. Kithing you mean; pray come behind with
Your mockths then,
My lipth will therve the one to kith the other.
Lady’s Trial.
HEYWOOD.
The path of pleasure, and the gate to bliss,
Which on your lips I knock at with a kiss.
Woman Killed with Kindness.
My wife, the mother to my pretty babes!
Both those lost names I do restore thee back,
And with this kiss I wed thee once again.
Though thou art wounded in thy honored name,
And with that grief upon thy death-bed liest,
Honest in heart, upon my soul, thou diest.
Woman Killed with Kindness.
SHIRLEY.
I’m disinherited, thrown out of all,
But the small earth I borrow, thus to walk on;
And, having nothing left, I come to kiss thee,
And take my everlasting leave of thee, too.
Farewell! this will persuade thee to consent
To my eternal absence.
The Brothers.
DRYDEN.
She brought her cheek up close, and leaned on his;
At which he whispered kisses back on hers.
All for Love.
Oh, let me live forever on those lips!
The nectar of the gods to these is tasteless.
Amphytrion.
OTWAY.
He scarce afforded one kind parting word,
But went away so cold, the kiss he gave me
Seemed the forced compliment of sated love.
Orphan.
Belvidera. (To Jaffier.)
I’ll make this arm a pillow for thine head,
And, as thou sighing liest, and swelled with sorrow,
Creep to thy bosom, pour the balm of love
Into thy soul, and kiss thee to thy rest;
Then praise our God, and watch thee till the morning.
Venice Preserved.
LANSDOWNE.
The kiss you take is paid by that you give:
The joy is mutual, and I’m still in debt.
Heroic Love.
GOLDSMITH.
Marlow. To guess at this distance, you can’t be much above forty. [Approaching.] Yet nearer, I don’t think so much. [Approaching.] By coming close to some women, they look younger still; but when we come very close indeed—[Attempting to kiss her.]
Miss Hardcastle. Pray, sir, keep your distance. One would think you wanted to know one’s age as they do horses, by mark of mouth.
She Stoops to Conquer.
KNOWLES.
There may you read in him how love would seem
Most humble when most bold,—you question which
Appears to kiss her hand,—his breath or lips!
Hunchback.
Modus. You’ve questioned me, and now I’ll question you.
Helen. What would you learn?
Mod. The use of lips?
Hel. To speak.
Mod. Naught else?
Hel. “How bold my modest cousin grows!”
Why, other use know you?
Mod. I do.
Hel. Indeed!
You’re wondrous wise! And, pray, what is it?
Mod. This. [Attempts to kiss her.]
Hel. Soft! My hand thanks you, cousin; for my lips,
I keep them for a husband! Nay, stand off!
I’ll not be held in manacles again.
Hunchback.
SCHILLER.
Countess. Doors creaked and clapped;
I followed panting, but could not o’ertake thee;
When on a sudden did I feel myself
Grasped from behind,—the hand was cold that grasped me.
’Twas thou, and thou didst kiss me, and there seemed
A crimson covering to envelop us.
Wallenstein. That is the crimson tapestry of my chamber.
Wallenstein.
GOETHE.
Oh, hear me, look upon me, how my heart
After long desolation now unfolds
Unto this new delight, to kiss thy head,
Thou dearest, dearest one of all on earth,
To clasp thee with my arms, which were but thrown
On the void winds before.
Iphigenia.
ALFIERI.
O children! O my children! to my soul
Your innocent words and kisses are as darts
That pierce it to the quick.
Alcestis.
LONGFELLOW.
Victorian. Since yesterday I’ve been in Alcala.
Ere long the time will come, sweet Preciosa,
When that dull distance shall no more divide us,
And I no more shall scale thy wall by night
To steal a kiss from thee, as I do now.
Preciosa. An honest thief, to steal but what thou givest.
Spanish Student.
BULWER-LYTTON.
Melnotte. I hold her in these arms—the last embrace!
Never, ah, nevermore shall this dear head
Be pillowed on the heart that should have sheltered
And has betrayed! Soft—soft! one kiss—poor wretch!
No scorn on that pale lip forbids me now!
One kiss—so ends all record of my crime!
It is the seal upon the tomb of Hope,
By which, like some lost, sorrowing angel, sits
Sad Memory evermore.
Lady of Lyons.
De Mauprat. [To Julie, kissing her hand.] Ay;
With my whole heart I love you!—
[To De Beringhen.] Now, sir, go,
And tell that to his Majesty! Who ever
Heard of its being a state-offence to kiss
The hand of one’s own wife?
Richelieu.
TALFOURD.
The widow of the moment fix her gaze
Of longing, speechless love upon her babe,
The only living thing which yet was hers,
Spreading its arms for its own resting-place,
Yet with attenuated hand wave off
The unstricken child, and so embraceless die,
Stifling the mighty hunger of the heart.
Ion.
She scarcely raised
Her head, until her work—a bridal robe—
Hung dazzling on her arm; as then she sought
Her chamber, I impressed one solemn kiss
Upon her icy brow: then, as aroused
From stupor by poor sympathy, she threw
Her arms around my neck; and, whispering low,
But piercingly, conjured me to keep watch
Upon her thinkings, lest one erring wish
Should rise to mar her duty to her lord.
Glencoe.
MISS MITFORD.
He used to call me child,
His dearest child; and when I grasped his hand
Would hold me from him with a long fond gaze,
And stroke my hair, and kiss my brow, and bid
Heaven bless his sweet Camilla! And to-night
Nought but to bed! to bed!
Foscari.
King. [To Cromwell.] Sir,
Thou seest me with my children. Doth thine errand
Demand their absence?
Cromwell. No. I sent them to thee
In Christian charity. Thou hast not fallen
Among the heathen!
King. Howsoever sent,
It was a royal boon. My heart hath ached
With the vain agony of longing love
To look upon those blooming cheeks, to kiss
Those red and innocent lips, to hear the sound
Of those dear voices.
Charles the First.
PROCTER.
Oh, Isidora, where—
Where are you loitering now when Guido’s here?
By the bright god of love, I’ll punish you,
Idler, and press your rich red lips until
The color flies.
Mirandola.
MRS. BROWNING.
[Eve to Adam.] Because I comprehend
This human love, I shall not be afraid
Of any human death; and yet because
I know this strength of love, I seem to know
Death’s strength by that same sign. Kiss on my lips,
To shut the door close on my rising soul,
Lest it pass outward in astonishment,
And leave thee lonely.
Drama of Exile.
Adam. A child’s kiss
Set on thy sighing lips shall make thee glad—
...
Thy hand, which plucked the apple, I clasp close;
Thy lips, which spake wrong counsel, I kiss close.
Drama of Exile.
TENNYSON.
Milkmaid. [Singing without.]
Shame upon you, Robin,
Shame upon you now!
Kiss me would you? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Daisies grow again,
Kingcups blow again,
And you came and kissed me milking the cow.
Robin came behind me,
Kissed me well, I vow;
Cuff him could I? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Swallows fly again,
Cuckoos cry again,
And you came and kissed me milking the cow.
Come, Robin, Robin,
Come and kiss me now:
Help it can I? with my hands
Milking the cow?
Ringdoves coo again,
All things woo again,
Come behind and kiss me milking the cow.
Queen Mary.