Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life Being several Feigned Stories, Comical, Tragical, Tragi-comical, Poetical, Romancical, Philosophical, Historical, and Moral: Some in Verse, some in Prose; some Mixt, and some by Dialogues. Written by the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, and most Excellent Princess, The Duchess of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Edition |
 |
|
|
|
 | Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life |  |
At which she sad and melancholy grew;
Yet her Disease not thorowly she knew.
Like as a Plant, that from the Earth doth spring,
Sprouts high, before a full-blown Flower it bring.
So did her Love in Bud obscurely lye,
Not any one as yet did it descry:
Nor did the Prince the least affection find,
She being reserv'd in action, and in mind.
Sober she was, and of a bashful look,
Of but few words; yet she good notice took,
And much observ'd, for Love hath a quick Eye,
And often by her Countenance doth spy
The hidden Thoughts, that the Tongue dare not tell;
For in the Mind obscurity doth dwell.
But yet she did espy something lay cross
To his Desires, but guess'd not what it was;
But griev'd that any thing should him displease:
For those that love, do wish their Lov'd much ease:
Nay, so much ease, they Torments would endure,
If these, for those they love, might good procure.
But she grew restless, and her Thoughts did run
About him, as about the VVorld, the Sun:
For he was her sole VVorld, and wish'd her Love
Had influence, as Planets from above,
To order his affections, and to bring
From several Causes, one Effect to spring;
And the Effect, that he might love her so,
As love her best, or at least he might know
How well she lov'd him; for she wish'd no more
Than love for love, as Saints which do adore
The Gods in Heaven, whose love is wholly pure,
And nothing can of drossy flesh endure.
At last she and her Thoughts in Councel sate,
What was best to be done, or this, or that:
They all agree, that she her Love should own,
Since innocent and pure, and make it known
By her Epistles, and her Pen to write
What her pure Heart did dictate and indite:
No forfeit of her Modesty, because
She had no Ends, but only Virtuous Laws.
Then took she Pen and Paper, and her Wit
Did tell her Love the truth; and thus she writ:
Yet her Disease not thorowly she knew.
Like as a Plant, that from the Earth doth spring,
Sprouts high, before a full-blown Flower it bring.
So did her Love in Bud obscurely lye,
Not any one as yet did it descry:
Nor did the Prince the least affection find,
She being reserv'd in action, and in mind.
Sober she was, and of a bashful look,
Of but few words; yet she good notice took,
And much observ'd, for Love hath a quick Eye,
And often by her Countenance doth spy
The hidden Thoughts, that the Tongue dare not tell;
For in the Mind obscurity doth dwell.
But yet she did espy something lay cross
To his Desires, but guess'd not what it was;
But griev'd that any thing should him displease:
For those that love, do wish their Lov'd much ease:
Nay, so much ease, they Torments would endure,
If these, for those they love, might good procure.
But she grew restless, and her Thoughts did run
About him, as about the VVorld, the Sun:
For he was her sole VVorld, and wish'd her Love
Had influence, as Planets from above,
To order his affections, and to bring
From several Causes, one Effect to spring;
17
As love her best, or at least he might know
How well she lov'd him; for she wish'd no more
Than love for love, as Saints which do adore
The Gods in Heaven, whose love is wholly pure,
And nothing can of drossy flesh endure.
At last she and her Thoughts in Councel sate,
What was best to be done, or this, or that:
They all agree, that she her Love should own,
Since innocent and pure, and make it known
By her Epistles, and her Pen to write
What her pure Heart did dictate and indite:
No forfeit of her Modesty, because
She had no Ends, but only Virtuous Laws.
Then took she Pen and Paper, and her Wit
Did tell her Love the truth; and thus she writ:
| Natures Picture Drawn by Fancies Pencil To the Life | |