Communication with secret signs has a long history in love poetry. This is Ovid on the topic:
- me specta nutusque meos vultumque loquacem;
excipe furtivas et refer ipsa notas.
verba superciliis sine voce loquentia dicam; - verba leges digitis, verba notata mero.
cum tibi succurret Veneris lascivia nostrae,
purpureas tenero pollice tange genas.
siquid erit, de me tacita quod mente queraris,
pendeat extrema mollis ab aure manus. - cum tibi, quae faciam, mea lux, dicamve, placebunt,
versetur digitis anulus usque tuis.
tange manu mensam, tangunt quo more precantes,
optabis merito cum mala multa viro. - View me, my becks, and speaking countenance:
Take, and receive each secret amorous glaunce.
Words without voyce shall on my eye browes sit,
Lines thou shalt read in wine by my hand writ.
When our lascivious toyes come in thy minde,
Thy Rosie cheekes be to thy thombe inclinde.
If ought of me thou speak’st in inward thought,
Let thy soft finger to thy eare be brought.
When I (my light) do or say ought that please thee,
Turne round thy gold-ring, ass it were to ease thee.
Strike on the boord like them that pray for evill,
When thou doest wish thy husband at the devill.
Ovid, Amores 1.4, translation by Christopher Marlowe
(picture found via lizcowie)
(Source: w-i-s-h-b-o-n-e)
