THY @3Friends@1! Nay spare the plural there; Such things as Friends are singular: Thou of thy Phoenixes as well Mayst tell Thy tale, & be belev'd as soon That thou hast many of what scarce is one. 2 Shines thy Sun fair? that gorgeous light To shew a Freind is too too bright: The day with gloomy shades opprest Will best Discover Him, whose Worth by none But its own glorious rays is seen alone. 3 Alas thy fawning Courtiers be Friends of thy Fortune, not of Thee: Let her but frown, & they will do So too. Be warey then, & just as farr Rely on Them, as Thou canst trust to Her. 4 But hast thou met a faithfull Heart? In spight of Fortune blest thou art. Write others down @3Acquaintance@1, but yet Admit Sole him into thy @3Friends@1 dear Roll; Them in thine arms imbrace, Him in thy Soule. 5 For who is thy souls Spouse but He? O then with him contented be. Let chastity thy love commend And lend No ear to wanton Syrens, who Would thee to breach of Friendships wedlock woo. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...VISIONS: 4. A ROSE by WILLIAM BROWNE (1591-1643) THE WHITE KNIGHT'S SONG by CHARLES LUTWIDGE DODGSON HYMN TO SCIENCE by MARK AKENSIDE L'EAU DORMANTE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TO THE NECROPHILE by WALTER CONRAD ARENSBERG |