"It Fell On A Summer's Day" by Thomas Campion (poetry reading)

Giacomo Casanova, the great seducer, said, "Men deceive women but it's not important. In matters of love, as a general rule, men and women deceive each other."

After women have been unfaithful they say to their partner "It just happened" and, when pressed for a reason, "I don't know why". That alarms their partner because, if there was no reason, what is to stop it happening again? Women won't say "I was sexually excited" but, of course, that's the truth. So, to seduce a woman, you have to make her sexually excited. It looks abrupt and crude in print but that's what wooing is: a gradual progress from acquaintance to intimacy.

Women aren't logical when it comes to love. Their amour was kindled in early puberty, in their imagination, by reading historical romances, watching movies and TV and forming passions for heroes who became the paradigm of an Acceptable Partner. You have to become the Mr. Darcy of her dreams.

If you are not an Acceptable Partner, then you won't make progress, but it's hard to tell whether you qualify. The signals have changed over the ages - these days girls don't glance over their fans, drop their handkerchiefs or set their caps at you. There is body language - but it can be hard to read. The girl who never looks at you might well have a passion for you. Don't ignore small signs, even mere proximity. Talk to the girl closest to you - she might have a reason to be there - and that reason might be you.

What disqualifies you as an Acceptable Partner is not logical at all. You might wear socks of the wrong colour or the wrong sort of shoes. You might button the top-button of your shirt - or leave too many shirt-buttons undone. It might seem to be a good idea to cultivate a fashionable appearance but, in the mating game, this is rarely an advantage. Somehow, you have to fit a vague and exciting pattern that exists nowhere but in the lady's imagination.

Once you're engaged in conversation or out on a date, there's just one rule - don't do anything to ruin it. Never give a girl a bad experience. There are tricky situations: do you open the door for her, pull out the chair for her - or not? Either option can spoil your chances. It is prudent to discover first what she feels relationships between men and women should be. Your dress and your manners are things that you can change.

How do you seduce her? Well, there is only one source of that information, so ask her: just don't be too obvious about it. Casanova said, "Any girl who can be kissed can be seduced". Cultivate a light touch, an almost imperceptible progression and never allow a situation to develop that requires her to make the decision.

In love, it is the women who do the choosing and they decide how far it will go. So always bear in mind what Casanova said, "I do not conquer. I submit."

Sleeping Bacchante, painted by Hungarian artist Karoly Brocky

Sleeping Venus, painted by Jean Baptiste Huët (1745-1811)
http://www.artnet.com/artists/lotdetailpage.aspx?lot_id=5EDC7761859D6770

The picture of Thomas Campion is from this book about his works
http://www.faber.co.uk/work/thomas-campion/9780571236640/

It fell on a sommers day,
While sweete Bessie sleeping laie
In her bowre, on her bed,
Light with curtaines shadowed,
Iamy came: shee him spies,
Opning halfe her heauie eyes.

Iamy stole in through the dore,
She lay slumbring as before;
Softly to her he drew neere,
She heard him, yet would not heare,
Bessie vow'd not to speake,
He resolu'd that dumpe to breake.

First a soft kisse he doth take,
She lay still, and would not wake;
Then his hands learn'd to woo,
She dreamp't not what he would doo,
But still slept, while he smild
To see loue by sleepe beguild.

Iamy then began to play,
Bessie as one buried lay,
Gladly still through this sleight
Deceiu'd in her owne deceit,
And since this traunce begoon,
She sleepes eu'rie afternoone.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Summer's
• Day
• Thomas
• Campion
• poem
• poetry

[thallassocracy]

I was listening to an early interview with Georgina Spelvin recently, where she said: "Around where I grew up, all the guys dreamed of their first BJ. It was BJ this, BJ that - they never seemed to wish for anything else.

Then I got it. In a BJ the girl does all the work. The guy just lies there and enjoys himself. I guess that is the perfect sex for an American male ..... no ****ing effort!"

I think Campion is nearly as much fun as Georgina Spelvin.

Thank you.

[SpokenVerse]

@thallassocracy When her pleasure is your ultimate arousal and the feeling is reciprocated, then perhaps you have that gestalt of love that Adler said "transcends all other human relationships".

Porn is the scourge of love, rendering lovemaking down to mere gymnastics. It must have been better when there was a mystery to be discovered, when a "glimpse of stocking" was a turn-on, and a man's future wife's knees and elbows might be glued together for all he knew about what was between them.

[CBfrmcardiff]

You put it beautifully.

In fact, you put it so well that I was reminded of something... Anyway, perhaps the point of seduction is that the seduced doesn't make a clear decision, at least not until a point where the decision becomes a matter of course? Maybe not.

Anyway, well-chosen poem for us to enjoy. Thankyou very much

[SpokenVerse]

@CBfrmcardiff "A little still she strove, and much repented,

And, whispering "I will ne'er consent", consented.

from Don Juan by Lord Byron.

[CBfrmcardiff]

Also, did you write those reflections on women yourself? They're rather good. They might even prove useful.

The last paragraph, though, conflicts with the previous sentence. You say at the end that the woman makes the choice, but have just described a seduction where the woman at no time makes a decision, but is led step by step into ever more intimacy until she's excited.

That's an inconsistency!

[SpokenVerse]

@CBfrmcardiff When I said, "Never allow a situation to develop that requires her to make the decision", I meant is it's a bad idea to put her on the spot. She might not respond "Okay, let's do it" even though she's not averse. I could have put it better, I agree.

[frannibee]

That dump to breake?! I love it. Furiously searching alt meanings of "dump"---

And for you, sir: Long time listening, Funny how people creep into y/our beds---and lives! Thank you for many, many previous. You had me at Mariana :)

[CBfrmcardiff]

@SpokenVerse : thanks for that.

[MsGermanriesling]

Love the writing as much as your voice. I totally enjoy your wonderful work here.

[Wrothchild]

Campion wrote a good essay on poetry, mostly about metre, could have been Francis Bacon (again).

[sonofwalt]

Well done, friend. And the commentary well thought out, and ever so helpful.

[aspokenpoetsverse]

Paints a vivid picture,Well done tom!

[dracentsparkle]

love it