An Acknowledgment

My best of friends! what needs a chain to tie

One by your merit bound a Votarie?

Think you I have some plot upon my peace,

I would this bondage change for a release?

Since 'twas my fate your prisoner to be,

Heav'n knows I nothing fear but libertie.

Yet you do well that study to prevent,

After so rich a stock of favour spent

On one so worthless, lest my memory

Should let so dear an obligation dy

Without Record. This made my precious Friend

Her Token, as an Antidote to send

Against forgetful poysons. That as they

Who Vespers late, and early Mattins say

Upon their Beads, so on this linked skore

In golden numbers I might reckon ore

Your vertues and my debt, which does surmount

The trivial laws of Popular account:

For that within this emblematick knot

Your beauteous mind, and my own fate is wrote.

The sparkling constellation which combines

The Lock, is your dear self, whose worth outshines

Most of your sex: so solid and so clear

You like a perfect Diamond appear;

Casting from your example fuller light

Then those dimme sparks which glaze the brow of night,

And gladding all your friends, as doth the ray

Of that East-starre which wakes the cheerful day.

But the black Map of death and discontent

Behind that Adamantine firmament,

That luckless figure which like Calvary

Stands strew'd and coppy'd out in skuls, is I;

Whose life your absence clouds, and makes my time

Move blindfold in the dark ecliptick line.

Then wonder not if my removed Sun

So low within the Western Tropick run;

My eyes no day in this Horizon see,

Since where You are not all is night to me.

Lastly, the anchor which enfastned lies

Upon a pair of deaths, sadly applies

That Monument of Rest which harbour must

Our Ship-wrackt fortunes in a road of dust.

So then how late soere my joyless life

Be tired out in this affections strife:

Though my tempestuous fancie like the skie

Travail with stormes, and through my watry eie

Sorrows high-going waves spring many a leak;

Though sighs blow loud til my hearts cordage break;

Though Faith, and all my wishes prove untrue,

Yet Death shall fix and anchor Me with You.

'Tis some poor comfort that this mortal scope

Will Period, though never Crown my Hope.