III. CANTICLES II. XVI.
My beloved is mine, and I am his; He feedeth among the Lillies.
1
Ev'n like two little bank-dividing brookes,
That wash the pebles with their wanton streames,
And having rang'd and search'd a thousand nookes,
Meet both at length, in silver-brested Thames;
Where, in a greater Current they conjoyne;
So I my Best-Beloveds am; so, He is mine.
2
Ev'n so we met; and after long pursuit,
Ev'n so we joyn'd; we both became entire;
No need for either to renew a Suit,
For I was Flax, and he was Flames of fire:
Our firm united soules did more than twine;
So I my Best-Beloveds am; so He is mine.
3
If all those glittring Monarchs that command
The servile Quarters of this earthly Ball,
Should tender, in Exchange, their shares of land,
I would not change my Fortunes for them all:
Their wealth is but a Counter to my Coyne;
The world's but theirs; but my Beloved's mine.
4
Nay, more; If the faire Thespian Ladies, all
Should heap together their diviner treasure:
That Treasure should be deem'd a price too small
To buy a minuts Lease of half my Pleasure;
'Tis not the sacred wealth of all the Nine
Can buy my heart from Him; or His, from being mine.
5
Nor Time, nor Place, nor Chance, nor Death can bow
My least desires unto the least remove;
Hee's firmly mine by Oath; I, His, by Vow;
Hee's mine by Faith; and I am His by Love;
Hee's mine by Water; I am His, by Wine;
Thus I my Best-Beloveds am; Thus He is mine.
6
He is my Altar; I, his Holy Place;
I am his Guest; and he, my living Food;
I'm his, by Poenitence; He, mine by Grace;
I'm his, by Purchace; He is mine, by Blood;
Hee's my supporting Elme; and I, his Vine:
Thus I my Best-Beloveds am. Thus He is mine.
7
He gives me wealth: I give him all my Vowes:
I give Him songs; He gives me length of dayes;
With wreathes of Grace he crownes my conq'ring browes:
And I, his Temples, with a Crowne of Praise,
Which he accepts as an everlasting signe,
That I my Best-Beloveds am; and He is mine.
S. AUGUST. Manu. Cap. 24.
O my soule stampt with the Image of thy God; love him, of whom thou art so
much beloved: Bend to him that bowes to thee, seeke him that seeks thee: Love
thy lover, by whose love thou art prevented, being the cause of thy love: Be
carefull with those that are carefull, want with those that want; Be cleane with
the cleane, and holy with the holy: Choose this friend above all friends, who,
when all are taken away, remaines onely faithfull to thee: In the day of thy
buriall, when all leave thee, he will not deceive thee, but defend thee from the
roaring Lions, prepared for their prey.
EPIGRAM 3.
[Sing Hymen to my soule: What? lost and found]
Sing Hymen to my soule: What? lost and found,
Welcom'd, espous'd, enjoy'd so soone, and crown'd!
He did but climbe the Crosse; and then came downe
To th'Gates of Hell; triumph'd, and fetch'd a Crowne.
