Pia Desideria or, Divine Addresses, In Three Books. Illustrated with XLVII. Copper-Plates. Written in Latin by Herm. Hugo. Englished by Edm. Arwaker ... The Fourth Edition, Corrected |
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 | Pia Desideria |  |
117
IX.
O that thou wert as my Brother, that sucked the Breasts of my Mother; when I should find thee
without, I would kiss thee, yet I should not be Despised,
Cant. viii. 1.
Who will enoble my unworthy Race,
And Thy great Name among their Numbers place?
Nor wish I this to raise my Pedigree,
Contented with my mean Obscurity.
Yet, tho' my Blood wou'd be a stain to Thine,
Still I must wish we had one Parent-line.
Nor wou'd I have thee grown to those brisk Years
When first the gentle budding Down appears.
But still an Infant, hanging on the Breast,
The same which I before have often prest:
A Brother such wou'd my Ambition chuse,
If Elder, I thy Converse must refuse.
My Life! be born again, and let me see,
Dear Child, those happy Cradles, blest by Thee.
Children have pretty, pleasant, charming Arts,
Above the Elder Sort, to win our Hearts;
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Childhood is still most prevalent in Love:
Ev'n he who tames the World, tho' calm and mild
His Face appear—ev'n Love himself's a Child.
Wer't thou a Boy, drest in thy Infant Charms
Unblam'd, I'd clasp thee closely in my Arms.
My Life! be born again, and and let me see,
Dear Child, Those happy Cradles, blest by Thee:
Then I shou'd have Thee to my self alone,
Nor blam'd, nor censur'd if my Love were known.
My Arms all Day shou'd bear thy grateful Weight,
And be thy safe Enclosure all the Night.
When thy soft Cheeks or ruddy Lips I'd kiss,
No Fear or Shame shou'd interrupt the Bliss;
For none a Sister's Kindness can Upbraid,
At least when to an Infant-Brother Paid:
And tho' on thy soft Lips long time I'd dwell,
Sure a Chaste Kiss can never be but well.
O that you'd hear, ye gentle Pow'rs above,
And to my Brother thus transform my Love!
That thou, my Dear, my Brother wou'dst become,
Dear as the Off-spring of my Parents Womb.
Then all my Vows, then all my Thanks I'd pay,
Bless the glad Change, and hail the welcome Day.
What wou'd I do to make my Transport known?
What wou'd I do? What wou'd I leave undone?
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Stand all Night Centry by the Cradle-side?
How num'rous shou'd my Services become?
Ev'n till, perhaps you thought 'em troublesom:
For when my Mother took thee from the Breast,
My Arms shou'd with the next remove be Blest:
Or if she'd have thee born to take the Air,
I'd still my self the grateful Burthen bear.
Or wou'd she have thee in the Cradle lie,
Sing thee to Sleep, and then sit watching by:
If she to take the lov'd Employment went
My eager haste shou'd her Design prevent:
But when she shou'd intrust thee to my Care,
And going forth, leave me to tend my Dear;
How great wou'd be the Pleasure of my Charge?
How wou'd I then indulge my Self at large?
Thy Mantle soon I softly wou'd remove,
Eager t'enjoy the Object of my Love;
And, favour'd by the most Commodious Light,
Feast on thy lovely Face my longing Sight.
Thy Head shou'd on my Left-hand gently rest,
While with my Right I claspt thee to my Breast;
And then so lightly I wou'd steal a Kiss,
It shou'd not interrupt thy sleeping Bliss.
Then, Dear, be pleas'd a second Birth t'allow,
That on thy Cheeks my Lips may pay their Vow.
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And thou beginn'st to use thy loosned Tongue;
Then thou, my Love, shalt my small Pupil be,
And as I Speak, shalt Stammer after me:
And when thou dost the help of Arms refuse,
And dar'st attempt th'assisting Wand to use,
I'll teach thee safely how to Praunce along,
And keep thy nimble Footsteps firm and strong:
And if some naughty Stone offend thy Feet,
My ready Arms their stumbling Charge shall meet:
Pleas'd with a frequent Opportunity
Of thus receiving and embracing Thee:
Nor shall I any Recompence regard,
The pleasing Service is its own Reward.
121
I was ignorant, O sweet Jesu, that thy Embraces were so pleasant, thy Touch so delightful, thy Conversation so diverting; for when I touch Thee, I am clean; when I receive Thee, I am a Virgin.
Bonavent. Soliloq. cap. 1.
| Pia Desideria | |