| EV'N like two little bank-dividing brookes, | |
| That wash the pebles with their wanton streames, | |
| And having rang'd and search'd a thousand nookes, | |
| Meet both at lengthe in silver-brested Thames, | |
| Where in a greater Current they conjoyne: | 5 |
| So I my Best-Beloveds am; so He is mine. | |
| |
| Ev'n so we met; and after long pursuit, | |
| Ev'n so we joyn'd; we both became entire; | |
| No need for either to renew a Suit, | |
| For I was Flax and he was Flames of fire: | 10 |
| Our firm united soules did more than twine; | |
| So I my Best-Beloveds am; so He is mine. | |
| |
| If all those glittring Monarchs that command | |
| The servile Quarters of this earthly Ball, | |
| Should tender, in Exchange, their shares of land, | 15 |
| I would not change my Fortunes for them all: | |
| Their wealth is but a Counter to my Coyne; | |
| The world 's but theirs; but my Beloved 's mine. | |
| |
| Nay, more; If the fair Thespian Ladies all | |
| Should heap together their diviner treasure: | 20 |
| That Treasure should be deem'd a price too small | |
| To buy a minutes Lease of half my Pleasure; | |
| 'Tis not the sacred wealth of all the Nine | |
| Can buy my heart from Him; or His, from being mine. | |
| |
| Nor Time, nor Place, nor Chance, nor Death can bow | 25 |
| My least desires unto the least remove; | |
| Hee 's firmely mine by Oath; I, His, by Vow; | |
| Hee 's mine by Faith; and I am His by Love; | |
| Hee 's mine by Water; I am His, by Wine; | |
| Thus I my Best-Beloveds am; Thus He is mine. | 30 |
| |
| He is my Altar; I, his Holy Place; | |
| I am his Guest; and he, my living Food; | |
| I'm his, by Poenitence; He, mine by Grace; | |
| I'm his, by Purchase; He is mine, by Blood; | |
| Hee 's my supporting Elme; and I, his Vine: | 35 |
| Thus I my Best-Beloveds am; Thus He is mine. | |
| |
| He gives me wealth; I give him all my Vowes: | |
| I give him songs; He gives me length of dayes: | |
| With wreathes of Grace he crownes my conqu'ring browes: | |
| And I, his Temples, with a Crowne of Praise, | 40 |
| Which he accepts as an everlasting signe, | |
| That I my Best-Beloveds am; that He is mine. | |
| |
