University of Virginia Library

Non est mortale quod opto: Upon Mrs A. L.

Thou thinkst I flatter when thy praise I tell,
But thou dost all Hyperboles excell:
For I am sure thou art no Mortal creature,
But a Divine one thron'd in humane feature.
Thy piety is such, that heaven by merit,
If ever any did, thou shouldst inherit:
Thy modesty is such, that hadst thou bin
Tempted as Eve, thou wouldst have shunn'd her sin:
So lovely fair thou art, that sure Dame Nature
Meant thee the pattern of the Female creature:
Besides all this, thy flowing Wit is such,
That were it not in thee, 't had bin too much
For Woman-kind: should Envy look thee ore,
It would confess thus much, if not much more.
I love thee well, yet wish some bad in thee,
For sure I am thou art too good for me.
I. S.