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Argalvs and Parthenia

Written by Fra: Quarles

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Incomparable Lady,

When first of all, by heauens diuine directions,
VVe lou'd, we lik'd, we linkt our deare affections,
And with the solemne power of an oath,
In presence of the better gods, we both

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Exchang'd our hearts: in witnesse of which thing,
I gaue, and she receiued this deare Ring,
Which now you weare, by which she did resigne
Her heart to me; for which, I gaue her mine.
Now, Maddam, by a mutuall commerce,
My exchang'd heart is not my owne, but hers;
Which if it had the power to suruiue,
She being dead, what heart haue I to giue?
Or if that heart expired in her death,
VVhat heart had shee (poore Lady!) to bequeath?
Maddam, in her began my deare affection;
In her, it liu'd; in her, it had perfection;
In her, it ioy'd, although but ill befriended
By Fate; in her begun, in her, it ended.
If I had lou'd, if I had onely lou'd
Parthenia's beautie, I had soone beene mou'd
To moderate my sorrowes, and to place
That loue on you, that haue Parthenia's face,
But 'twas Parthenia's selfe I lou'd, and loue;
VVhich as no time hath power to remoue
From my fixt heart, so nothing can diminish,
No fortune can dissolue; no death can finish.