[25.] You earthly Souls
I
You earthly Souls that court a wanton flame,
Whose pale weak influence
Can rise no higher then the humble name
& narrow laws of Sense,
Learn by our friendship to create
An imaterial fire,
Whose brightness Angels may admire,
But cannot emulate.
II
Sickness may fright the roses from her cheek,
Or make the Lillies fade,
But all the subtil wayes that death doth seek
Cannot my love invade:
Flames that are kindled by the eye,
Through time and age expire;
But ours that boast a reach far higher
Cannot decay, nor die.
III
For when we must resigne our vital breath,
Our Loves by Fate benighted,
We by this friendship shall survive in death,
Even in divorce united.
Weak Love through fortune or distrust
In time forgets to burn,
But this pursues us to the Urn,
And marries either's dust.