A posie for lovers, or, The terrestrial Venus unmaskt in four poems.

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Title
A posie for lovers, or, The terrestrial Venus unmaskt in four poems.
Author
T. R. (Thomas Rogers), 1660-1694.
Publication
London :: Printed for Thomas Speed ...,
1694.
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"A posie for lovers, or, The terrestrial Venus unmaskt in four poems." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A57566.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 2, 2024.

Pages

Page 20

TO AN Old Gamesome Madam, Who Twittingly Ask't the AUTHOUR When he Design'd To Settle in the World.

MAdam, I must not from my Reason fly With the Dull World's Opinions to comply; Nor can I think a Woman's Excellence Consists in Noyse, fine Dress, and want of Sense: The Answer's near at hand; when I can tame Those Rising Passions which divide my Frame,

Page 21

And stem the Sallies of undue desire, Then shall I to true Settlement Aspire: For Settlement supposes Calm and Ease; Ev'n Heav'n consists in Temper, not in place. Angels are settled, while abroad they fly, And with swift Wings cut the soft yielding Sky: And, tho' coarse Vulgar Souls may count it strange, They rest at their Bright Home, when wide they range. But he's ne'er settled that feels bosom pains, Tho' ty'd at home by Matrimonial Chains: Nor can that Mortal a fix'd State e're find; That wears a Restless and Aspiring Mind: Else, Men in Bedlam may be said to have A Settled Blest Condition while they Rave.
Happy's that Man, whose Soul is not confin'd To Time or Place; who owns a free-born mind: Who Blest with Friends, and Intellectual Peace, Is Nobly Active, and yet lives at Ease. That Loves, but do's not Fear a Lady's Eye, Feels the sweet Wound, but bravely scorns to dye.
While Lab'rers rest and Guardian Angels wake, Of Nature's VVorks he can a Prospect take: And while he treads the quiet, thoughtful round, Eternity alone his thoughts can bound: VVhile others idle sit at home, abroad He can be Entertain'd, and well Employ'd; Unmov'd be'll be, ev'n while he seems to roam, And where he meets his Friend, he is at home.

Page 22

But Madam, can you talk of Settlement, Whom neither God, nor Man could e'er content? Of Wealth you've had, of Husbands too good Store; Thousands oth' one, and of the other four; And yet you daily pray, and pine for more. Glutted with Humane kind, again you crave, Nor can you settled be, 'till lodg'd in Grave. Your gloting Eyes more wantonness reflect, Than any high-fed Concubine can act:
Your wrigling Soul by working frets its way, Thro' Flesh and Blood, and doe's it self betray. Your restless Thoughts from Man to Man still rowl; A B essed Symptome of a Settled Soul.
When dreadful Fourscore Years are past and gone, When breath grows short, and the last hour draws on; 'Tis wondrous pretty in Love's Toils t' Engage, And to be Marri'd in a good Old Age: Wedlock which Youth Adorns, in you's a Sin: Yet you will on; as if you did design, By your Stale, wither'd Matrimonial Face, To bring the Dear Lov'd Thing into Disgrace. For shame, Old Chronicle, no longer rove In the wild Mystick Maze of Lawless Love: Hence, and that Venerable Limber lay In some dark Vault unknown to Light and Day: There sigh the short Remains of Life away.
There Mourn, confess, tell o're the num'rous Scroll, Ransack each secret Corner of your Soul.

Page 23

Shake, turn it outward, rub out ev'ry stain; Let your Repentance be oth' Nobler strain. And when your Funeral Pomp, and Rites are paid, O'er Tomb let your Effigies be display'd, And do some good, at least when you are dead. Your Looks perhaps may to Devotion call; Like Picture of Old Time upon a Wall.
FINIS.
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