Amanda A Sacrifice To an Unknown Goddesse, or, A Free-Will Offering Of a loving Heart to a Sweet-Heart. By N. H. [i.e. Nicholas Hookes] |
 |
|
|
To my Noblest and ever-Honoured friend, Sir Thomas Leventhorp, Baronet. |
|
 | Amanda |  |
81
To my Noblest and ever-Honoured friend, Sir Thomas Leventhorp, Baronet.
SIR,
Me thinks 'tis time to know the joyes of love,
'Toward great Hymens altar time to move;
And now no longer ward, 'tis fit you be
Guardian to some transcendent Deitie,
And make some wealthie beauty fortunate,
Not only in the share of your estate
And honours, but i'th' richer treasury
Of your faire person, and your sparkling eye,
Where a bright, radiant soul displayes
Its chaster twinkling flames, like the Sunnes rayes
In a clear Crystal font, when Zephyrus
That modest, luke-warme, Virgin-incubus
Makes the sweet Nimph hold out (the lovers blisse)
Cool trembling lips to take a passant kisse:
'Toward great Hymens altar time to move;
And now no longer ward, 'tis fit you be
Guardian to some transcendent Deitie,
And make some wealthie beauty fortunate,
Not only in the share of your estate
And honours, but i'th' richer treasury
Of your faire person, and your sparkling eye,
Where a bright, radiant soul displayes
Its chaster twinkling flames, like the Sunnes rayes
In a clear Crystal font, when Zephyrus
That modest, luke-warme, Virgin-incubus
Makes the sweet Nimph hold out (the lovers blisse)
Cool trembling lips to take a passant kisse:
'Tis pity that so rare a soul should be
Confin'd to thought, and in the Nunnerie
Of its own lodge, lead a monastick life,
Barr'd of all Consort joyes, which a good wife
Diffuseth like an Amber-box, wherein
Unguents, balme, spice, and perfum'd oile have been
Closely imprison'd, which now first take th' aire,
Like myrrhe and spikenard, when they bruised are,
And vie their odours with the violet,
The roses and carnations which are set
In my Amanda's cheeks, whose early breath
I'th' morning is an Antidote to death;
Sweeter then Cynamon, like Frankincense,
Preservative against the pestilence
Of melancholy fits, the dull disease
Of nods, brown studies, and such plagues as these;
Confin'd to thought, and in the Nunnerie
Of its own lodge, lead a monastick life,
Barr'd of all Consort joyes, which a good wife
Diffuseth like an Amber-box, wherein
Unguents, balme, spice, and perfum'd oile have been
Closely imprison'd, which now first take th' aire,
Like myrrhe and spikenard, when they bruised are,
82
The roses and carnations which are set
In my Amanda's cheeks, whose early breath
I'th' morning is an Antidote to death;
Sweeter then Cynamon, like Frankincense,
Preservative against the pestilence
Of melancholy fits, the dull disease
Of nods, brown studies, and such plagues as these;
'Tis fit so rare a bodie be possest
By two faire souls; so faire a soul be blest
With two faire bodies too; may both your minde
And bodie pleasure in its likenesse finde;
May she you choose be such, whose shape and feature
Shall speak her goddess rather then a creature;
May she be Eccho to your worth, in which
I fully wish she may be rarely rich,
In whatsoe're doth Admiration move,
In all the dainties of her sexe and love,
By two faire souls; so faire a soul be blest
With two faire bodies too; may both your minde
And bodie pleasure in its likenesse finde;
May she you choose be such, whose shape and feature
Shall speak her goddess rather then a creature;
May she be Eccho to your worth, in which
I fully wish she may be rarely rich,
In whatsoe're doth Admiration move,
In all the dainties of her sexe and love,
As for a single life, 'tis nothing lesse
Then Hermitage amongst a wildernesse
Of women, who do vaile their rarities,
Or else are fruitlesse or forbidden trees;
Besides, he studies Nature best 'tis known,
Who hath a Physick-garden of his own;
Which is most state, anothers land to till
And plough in common, or be Lord at will
In a Free-hold? Nay, then consider, Sir,
In robbing Orchards what the troubles are;
Though now from climbing private walls you free
Yet think what 'tis that tempts to th'robberie;
Youth and faire lovely fruit, though ne'er so good
And clean, sometimes the chastest flesh and blood
Must needs be bobbing; now to Tantalize,
And alwayes live by feeding of the eyes,
Is a poor silly banquet, on the thin,
Small, saplesse species that are served in,
By colour'd atomes, which an Elephant
Is as soon cloid with as the smallest Ant.
Then Hermitage amongst a wildernesse
Of women, who do vaile their rarities,
Or else are fruitlesse or forbidden trees;
Besides, he studies Nature best 'tis known,
Who hath a Physick-garden of his own;
Which is most state, anothers land to till
And plough in common, or be Lord at will
In a Free-hold? Nay, then consider, Sir,
In robbing Orchards what the troubles are;
Though now from climbing private walls you free
Yet think what 'tis that tempts to th'robberie;
83
And clean, sometimes the chastest flesh and blood
Must needs be bobbing; now to Tantalize,
And alwayes live by feeding of the eyes,
Is a poor silly banquet, on the thin,
Small, saplesse species that are served in,
By colour'd atomes, which an Elephant
Is as soon cloid with as the smallest Ant.
I know you have a Martial warlike heart,
Your looks speak valour, which 'tis fit y' impart
To the next age, and though you'd rather make
Your sword eate men, then have a woman take
Your noble spirits pris'ners, yet to give
Birth to an heire, and that your name may live,
Do like your fathers, lest you guilty be
O'th' murther of your blood and familie.
Your looks speak valour, which 'tis fit y' impart
To the next age, and though you'd rather make
Your sword eate men, then have a woman take
Your noble spirits pris'ners, yet to give
Birth to an heire, and that your name may live,
Do like your fathers, lest you guilty be
O'th' murther of your blood and familie.
| Amanda | |