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The Muses Melody in a Consort Of Poetry

With Diverse occasionall and Compendious Epistles. Composed by the Author Tho. Jordan
 

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To his disdainful Mistress, from whom he receiv'd a Repulse at the presentment of his service to lead her by the Arm in the street.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



To his disdainful Mistress, from whom he receiv'd a Repulse at the presentment of his service to lead her by the Arm in the street.

I shall give truth the lye, and must engage
In your defence the Pens of this whole Age,
Not to acknowledge that your form and features
Make you shine brightest 'mongst the best of Creatures.
He that surveys your Person with my Sense
Shall meet (at once) Light, Heat, and Influence;
Yet where you scorn, Experience bids me say,
You raise December in the midst of May.
The Chairs of State, the Scepters, Thrones, and Crowns
Of Life and Death are in your smiles and frowns,
This truth I freely vent, although you crack
The sinews of my soul upon the rack
Of undeserv'd displeasure, I must needs
Confess, all Vertue in your bosom breeds;
You are the mirror of all worth: Yet why
(If I may so capitulate) must I
For some offence unacted, or unknown,
Be tortur'd thus under the frigid Zone
Of your contempt? What have I done that can
Devest me of that Priviledge which Man
And manners justly claim? What is in me
So opposite unto civility,
That you should scatter your disdains upon
The soft Address of my Devotion?


Why should the bared Head, and bended Knee
Of faithful service meet such nicety?
You make me doubt my self, and wonder what
Great Error (like an Attom or a Gnat)
I am accus'd of; whether I did stand
Right with my Legs, or gave you the wrong Hand:
Whether my Gloves were on, or I did err
In wearing some unbutton'd Handkercher:
Which of these hainous sins it is, I can
No more conceive then a deceased man.
Pray manifest the Cause, and let me know
What is the cruel Author of my woe,
That I may curb the Love which did intrude,
And (for the future) cease to be so rude
With such Perfection; I will let the world
(To my own scorn) know why my hopes are hurl'd
From your bright Mercy: they shall understand
It is like Sacriledge to kiss your hand,
And that to Arm you brings as bad a fate,
As to be found in Arms against the State.