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Carolina

or, Loyal Poems. By Tho. Shipman

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BEAUTIES PERIPHRASIS.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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BEAUTIES PERIPHRASIS.

1674.
To Mrs. E. W.
My Muse, more happy far than I,
Has long my Mistris Hand-maid been,
Us'd to unlace, unpin, untye,
And has all her Perfections seen.
On New-years day I 'spy'd my Madam;
She and the Year both in their prime,
More fresh, than was the Miss of Adam
Sprung from the Maiden-head of Time.

148

Her Garments I will first disclose;
Then naked lay my blushing Queen,
The same procedure has the Rose;
First Leaves, and then the Bud is seen.
Her Hoods sometimes her Beauties hide;
Which custom may be well allow'd;
Since Sol's bright Face in all his pride,
Is often hid beyond a Cloud.
Her Visard-mask, that hides her face,
Declares more cruelty than state;
She looks as Beauty Prisoner was,
And peeping through a double grate.
Amongst her Curls she Jewels wears,
All glittering with those shining drops:
Which like Aurora's pearly Tears,
Sit trembling on the Lillies tops.
If we consider worth or state;
The Diamond neck-lace that she wears,
May challenge Ariadne's fate,
And turn into a wreath of Stars.
Her costly Points by Artists fram'd,
Like Wings of Cherubims imbrace
Her swelling Breasts; which once I nam'd
(Unjustly tho) the Mercy-place.
Her Gowns, tho rich, and worthy pride,
Lock up the beauties of her youth:
Like cloudy Parables that hide
The glorious majesty of Truth.

149

Her Gloves are like the tender Rind
Of that rare Plant, that sweateth Balm,
The truth of this you'd quickly find,
If you but kist her melting Palm.
Through scarlet-stockins shines her Skin:
Light pierces thus red-painted Glasses.
Ten shining Pearls inclos'd within,
Are lockt up in those ruby Cases.
Her Shoos with envy I did prize,
And wish'd my self be so grac'd;
Stor'd with two pair of open Eyes,
For tempting objects rightly plac'd.
Her envious Smock tho hid my bliss:
Thus Snow strikes earnest gazers blind;
All may be seen when thaw'd it is
By Love, that Sun-shine of the Mind.
Her Beauties are cloath'd o're with light,
Not here expos'd to wild desires;
Such thoughts, the beams of vertue fright:
As rav'nous Beasts retreat from fires.
Her Hair may justly make her prouder
Than Queens who to their Crowns were born;
And looks when candy'd o're with powder,
Like Sun-beams in a rimy morn'.
A curious chrystal prop (her Nose)
Supports the Arches of her Skies.
Her Front the chrystalline Heaven shows,
Studded with shining Stars, her Eyes.

150

Each Cheek like to a Roseal Grove,
Where thousand Cupids sporting lye;
Whetting their several Darts of Love;
Her Brows the Bows from whence they flye.
Her simpring Mouth such charms declare,
Which Rhetorick never could produce;
Her Lips, like full-ripe Cherries, are
Preserv'd in their own natural Juyce.
Her Breath more sweet than perfum'd gales,
That from Arabian Gardens blow;
Or those which sweep the Indian Vales,
Where Jasmins in their vigours grow.
Such treasures of her Breath and Tongue,
Ought not to be too much expos'd;
Hence Fate, to bulwark them from wrong,
With double fence of Pearls inclos'd.
Her Shoulders Beauty's Atlas are,
But coverd with a purer Snow;
And far a richer burden bear
Of Beauties, and of Glories too.
Her Breasts a pair of Ivory Bowls,
With Biasses of Rubies nail'd:
Or else two whitest Paper-scrouls,
Which Nature had with red-wax seal'd.
Beneath those Hills a Valley spread;
Where Violets and Lillies strove;
Through which a perfum'd Path did lead,
Directing to th' Elisian Grove.

151

Her Back-side two round snowy Mountains,
Which 'twixt 'em did a Valley hide;
In which did spring a pair of Fountains,
Where Gold and Silver streams did glide.
Her Knees, I these rare Hinges named,
On which this beauteous Fabrick mov'd;
Her Thighs, the Columns strongly framed
On which my stately Temple stood.
Thus have I vowed, sworn, protested,
To lift my Mistris to the Sky;
Yet, cruel she, thinks I but jested;
And, by my troth, Sirs, so think I.