University of Virginia Library

Ostella questioning of me concerning Clarinda, a former Mistress.

T'were sin to lie, Ostella, and to thee
the greatest piece of Wilfull Treachery.
That Wickednesse can gloze: That she whom You
do stile Clarinda, I did own is true.
So may the Babe suck Venom from the Tet;
and so the Dew may blast the Violet.
Such was my Innocence abus'd by her:
the Wisest in their Loves do soonest erre.
But I, that hardly could judg black from white,
mistook my Day, and wrapt my self in Night.
The little Bees, unskil'd, so may in flight,
mistake the Rose, and suck the Aconite:
Shee Courted me with such destroying tears
as th' Crocodile, or the curst Hinbane wears;
And like the Spider, wove a curious Net
of her enticinng Hair my Heart to get;
A Bird of Paradice was thought to be,
but she a Bird of Rapine prov'd to me.
In th' Summer of my Fortunes she did sing
much like the Swallow; but the Winters sting
Poys'ning my Hopes; she, like the Licorish Fly,
follows the next Sweet 'til sh' as suckt it dry.
The Morning dew so leaves the Violet,
when the Suns prouder Beams exhaleth it:
And this decreed Truth I've bought with smart,
that there's most danger where appears most Art,
These were my Childish Errors, for which I
have oft distill'd my Sorrow from my eye
The blind Man so in darkness walks, and yet
discerning not his want, nev'r questions it:
But You have form'd me new, and giv'n a sight
to my dark Judgement, I know now the Light:
And I will prize it Dearest as my Soul,
Which thou hast partly Cleans'd, once sadly foul.
As by the Suns infusive heat, the Earth
receives the Virtue, to give Gold a Birth,
Out of its sordid Womb. So from your eys
my Heart receives the Joys of Paradise:
Which I was losing. Am refined now.
by your pure fires: rejoycing Angels owe
You thanks for my reclaiming which Create
new Joys with Them, which bear a lasting Date.
Thus I'm become thy Convert (Dear) and will
pay all the Good I've forfeited for Ill.
Clarinda's Name shall like the Shaddow be
forgot ere Night; Thine to Eternity
Shall last. Oh I could Curse that wretched Pen
that wrote her mine, the common Stool for Men.
May all those Books as fast as bought, have flame:
may she as they Consume, Burn with the same;
That so th' infection of her name that fils
the earth with loosenesse and the Air with ills,
May die with her, and from her Grave shall rise,
as from a Load of Dung, Maggots and flies.
Pardon (Ostella) this unusuall rage
wrongs hid stirr'd up, in Man new Wars do wage.
Goodness perverted troubles a Calm State,
and Love abus'd grows desperate with hate.
Look on me Dear with that compassionate Sense
as you would on betrayed innocence,
Cloath'd in a Robe of Penitence from your eye
gratious Ostella let my pardon flie.
Confession and Contrition may win
from Heaven forgiveness for the greatest sin.
Your Saint like temper doth my faith perswade;
Your Mercy can Out-vy the faults I made.
Deceive not then my confidence I am
your votary now; and in my Heart a Flame
Burns with Religious Duty, and when I
Extinguish it may I unpitti'd die.
The fervent Light shall sooner leave the World,
(which through the darkest Roab that ore it's hurl'd
By night shoots forth some Splendor,) and the Air,
the holy Vestals breath in frequent Prayer,
Become infectious Saints from Heaven shall fall
into Perdition. All now righteous shall
Become Apostats, and this Globe receive
by its own weight its Tomb and Nature leave
To Propogate her kind ev'r my Faith wasteth
for know Ostella Love 'bove Nature lasteth.