University of Virginia Library

Ostella Confessing She loved Me.

A blest confession, for which expect
(though you have justly merited Neglect
From Love and me,) an Absolution for
all your past ills against us, since that War
Brought on this happy Peace, This Truce doth give
me more than hope, assurance I shall live,
Nay live to joy in You the onely sum
of all my hopes, from whence my Blisse must come.
The Gods will recompence you for this Deed,
And amplifie your Glory in your Seed;
But I admire you held me in suspence
so long knowing my Loves pure innocence;
That though with Love I seem'd to be all fire,
yet was a Stoick to impure desire;
But I have found the Reason, and you know it,
The cleernesse of this Truth doth plainly shew it,
“The longer growth Diseases do indure,
“The more the Grief, more famous is the Cure
So from your Patients Tortour you would raise
an honour, and by Curing him, a praise.
And by that Weaknesse I'm more hearty grown
Than if my Strength had never Weaknesse known.
'Twas pretty Policy which I commend,
that Sorrow's sweetn'd that doth find an End.
Your Answers pli'de me as you'd beat back fire
not to suppress the Flame, but raise it higher.