A Dialogue on a Kiss

She:

Among thy fancies tell me this,

what is the thing we call a kiss?

He:

I shall resolve you what it is:

it is a creature born and bred

betwixt the lips all cherry red,

by love and warm desires fed.

Both:

And makes more sweet the bridal bed.

It is an active flame that flies

first to the babies of the eyes,

and charms it there with lullabyes.

And stills the bride too when she cries.

Then to the chin, the cheek, the ear

it frisks, it flies, now here, now there.

'Tis now far off, and now 'tis near:

'tis here and there and ev'rywhere.

She:

Has it a voicing virtue?

He:

Yes.

She:

How speaks it then?

He:

Do you but this,

SYSTEMpart your join'd lips, then speak the kiss.

Both:

And this Love's sweetest language is.

She:

Has it a body?

He:

Aye, and wings

with thousand various colourings.

Both:

And as it flies it sweetly sings,

Love honey yields but never stings.