Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
 |
|
Upon Parting with a Friend.
|
 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
161
Upon Parting with a Friend.
1
And can the affects of Cordial Friendship beSo apt to raise a Tumult in the Mind?
Or so injurious to my Friend and me,
To make us to each other seem unkind?
'Twere then but weak; nay Weakness surely must
Be challeng'd ours: Friendship is always just.
2
May we not innocently then rejoyceIn the Society of Bosom-Friends?
Yea; yet we cannot always have our choice,
Since things below unto Mutation tends.
True Friends must part of meer necessity;
Best Titles here are but uncertainty.
3
Yet might the Ocean cease to ebb and flow,Ere I should once ungratefully deny
Those Obligations deep, whereby I owe
Much more to thee, than my poor Company
Could e'er retaliate in many days;
But I might suffer Losses other ways.
4
Whilst she, obliging she, might never want,What was so much desir'd, Society;
There's many too ambitiously would grant
That which themselves would so much gratify.
162
And scarcely worth the Labour to obtain?
5
Then why should too too furious fiery Zeal,Usurp a place in such a Noble Heart,
Where only Love should evermore prevail,
(As knowing best to act true Friendships part)
Which thinks no Evil, but doth tenderly
Heal, or conceal and hide Infirmity?
6
They that are unengag'd in Wedlock, seemT'enjoy a Priviledge of Liberty,
To act Spontaneously, and may redeem
Time to enjoy a Friend; yet frequently
Such can plead urgent Business to withdraw,
And think it is no Breach of Friendships Law.
7
When such as are by nuptial Tye confin'd,Should not be censur'd in Sarcastick Strains,
Lest some seem Cruel, when they would be Kind;
And so change Mutual Pleasures into Pains:
Therefore let Heats and Animosities,
On Friedship's Score, no more among us rise.
| Fruits of Retirement | |