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On the DEATH of my Dear Friend and Play-fellow, Mrs E. D. having Dream'd the night before I heard thereof, that I had lost a Pearl.
I dream'd I lost a Pearl, and so it prov'd;I lost a Friend much above Pearls belov'd:
A Pearl perhaps adorns some outward part,
But Friendship decks each corner of the heart:
Friendship's a Gem, whose Lustre do's out-shine
All that's below the heav'nly Crystaline:
Friendship is that mysterious thing alone,
Which can unite, and make two Hearts but one;
It purifies our Love, and makes it flow
I'th' clearest stream that's found in Love below;
It sublimates the Soul, and makes it move
Towards Perfection and Celestial Love.
We had no by-designs, nor hop'd to get
Each by the other place amongst the great;
Nor Riches hop'd, nor Poverty we fear'd,
'Twas Innocence in both, which both rever'd.
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So oft enjoyd a harmless Luxurie;
Where we indulg'd our easie Appetites,
With Pocket-Apples, Plumbs, and such delights.
Then we contriv'd to spend the rest o'th' day,
In making Chaplets, or at Check-stone play;
When weary, we our selves supinely laid
On Beds of Vi'lets under some cool shade,
VVhere th' Sun in vain strove to dart through his Rays;
Whilst Birds around us chanted forth their Lays;
Ev'n those we had bereaved of their young,
VVould greet us with a Querimonious Song.
Stay here, my Muse, and of these let us learn,
The loss of our deceased Friend to Mourn:
Learn did I say? alas, that cannot be,
We can teach Clouds to weep, and Winds to sigh at Sea,
Teach Brooks to murmur, Rivers to o're-flow,
VVe can add Solitude to Shades of Yeaugh.
VVere Turtles to be witness of our moan,
They'd in compassion quite forget their own:
Nor shall hereafter Heraclitus be,
Fam'd for his Tears, but to my Muse and Me;
Fate shall give all that Fame can comprehend,
Ah poor repair for th' loss of such a Friend.
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