University of Virginia Library

On Flowers in a Lady's Bosom.

Behold the promis'd Land, where Pleasure flows!
See how the Milk-white Hills do gently rise,
And beat the silken Skies!
Behold the Valley spread with Flow'rs below!
Other Discoveries, Fate, let me not share;
If I find out, may I inhabit there.
The happy Flow'rs, how they allure my Sense!
The fairer Soil gives 'em the noble Hew;
Her Breath perfumes 'em too:
Rooted i'th' Heart, they seem to spring from thence.
Tell, tell me why, thou fruitful Virgin-Breast,
Why should so good a Soil lie unpossest?
Surely some Champion in the Cause of Love,

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Has languish'd here—more weary with the Sight,
Than vanquish'd quite;
While the soft God took Pity from above,
And thinking to reward his Service well,
Bid him grow there where he so nobly fell.
So when the longing Cytherea found
The murder'd Boy, who long deceiv'd her Eyes
Under a Flow'r Disguise,
And pluck'd the curious Posey from the Ground:
Fair Cytherea's Bosom look'd like this;
So blush'd Adonis in the Seat of Bliss.