The BRIDE in her owne person.
Sonet IX.
1
What greater joy can bless my soule, thē this
That my beloved's mine, and I am his!
Our soules are knit; the world cannot untwine
The joyfull union of his heart, and mine;
In him, I live; in him, my soule's possest
With heavenly solace, and eternall rest:
Heaven onely knowes the blisse, my soule enjoyes;
Fond earth's too dull, to apprehend such ioyes.
2
Thou sweet perfection of my full delights,
Till that bright
Day, devoted to the rites
Of our solemniz'd Nuptialls, shall come,
Come live with me, & make this heart thy Home:
Disdaine me not: Although my face appeare
Deform'd and cloudie, yet my heart is
cleare;
Wake haste: Let not the swift-foot Roe-bucke flee
The following Hounde so fast, as thou to me.
3
I thought my Love had taken up his rest,
Within the
secret Cabin of my brest;
I thought the closed curtaines did immure
His gentle slumbers, but was too secure;
For (driven with love) to the false bed I
stept
To view his slumbring beautie, as he slept,
But he was gone; yet plainely there was seene
The curious dint, where he had lately beene,
4
Impatient of his absence, thus bereaven
Of him, than whom, I had no other heaven,
I rav'd a while; not able to digest
So great a losse, to lose so faire a Guest:
I left no path untrac'd; no
place nnsought;
No secret Cell unsearcht; no way unthought;
I ask'd the shade, but shadowes could not hide him;
I ask'd the World, but all the world deny'd him.
5
My jealous Love, distemp'red with distraction,
Made fierce with feare, unapt for satisfaction,
Aplyes fresh fuell, to my flaming fires,
With Eagles wings supplies my quicke desires
Vp to the walls I trampled, where I spide
The
City watch, to whom with teares I cryde,
Ah gentle Watchmen, you aloft descry
What's darke to us; did not my love passe by?
6
At lēgth, whē dul despaire had gain'd the groūnd
Of tyred hopes, my faith fell in a swound;
But He, whose sympathising heart did finde
The tyrant passion of my troubled minde,
Forthwith appear'd: What Angels tongue can let
The world conceive our pleasures, when we met?
And till the joyes of our espoused hearts
Be made
cōpleat, the world ne're more shall part's.
