Gateway to the Classics: Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 2 by Arthur Quiller-Couch
 
Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 2 by  Arthur Quiller-Couch

A Divine Rapture

E'en like two little bank-dividing brooks,

That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams,

And having ranged and search'd a thousand nooks,

Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames,

Where in a greater current they conjoin:

So I my Best-belovéd's am; so He is mine.


E'en so we met; and after long pursuit,

E'en so we joined; we both became entire;

No need for either to renew a suit,

For I was flax, and He was flames of fire:

Our firm-united souls did more than twine;

So I my Best-belovéd's am; so He is mine.


If all those glittering Monarchs, that command

The servile quarters of this earthly ball,

Should tender in exchange their shares of land,

I would not change my fortunes for them all:

Their wealth is but a counter to my coin:

The world's but theirs; but my Belovéd's mine.

— Francis Quarles
1592-1644   


 Table of Contents  |  Index  |  Home  | Previous: Litany to the Holy Spirit  |  Next: Epigram: Respice Finem
Copyright (c) 2005 - 2023   Yesterday's Classics, LLC. All Rights Reserved.