Aphra Behn

"All women together ought to let flowers fall upon the tomb of Aphra Behn,
for it was she who earned them the right to speak their minds." -Virginia Woolf

Aphra Behn was one of the first professional English amatory fiction writers.
You should read about her.
She was also a spy with a potentially sham-marriage as a cover.
Very interesting.

LOVE ARMED

by: Aphra Behn

OVE in fantastic triumph sat,

Whilst bleeding hearts around him flowed,

For whom fresh pains he did create,

And strange tyrannic power he showed,

From thy bright eyes he took his fire,

Which round about, in sport he hurled;

But 'twas from mine, he took desire,

Enough to undo the amorous world.




From me he took his sighs and tears,

From thee his pride and cruelty;

From me his languishments and fears,

And every killing dart from thee;

Thus thou and I, the god have armed,

And set him up a deity;

But my poor heart alone is harmed,

Whilst thine the victor is, and free.