Gateway to the Classics: Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 3 by Arthur Quiller-Couch
 
Oxford Book of English Verse, Part 3 by  Arthur Quiller-Couch

To One Persuading a Lady to Marriage

Forbear, bold youth; all's heaven here,

And what you do aver

To others courtship may appear,

'Tis sacrilege to her.

She is a public deity;

And were't not very odd

She should dispose herself to be

A petty household god?


First make the sun in private shine

And bid the world adieu,

That so he may his beams confine

In compliment to you:

But if of that you do despair,

Think how you did amiss

To strive to fix her beams which are

More bright and large than his.

— Katherine Philips (Orinda)
1631–1664   


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