THY @3Friends@1! Nay spare the plural there; Such things as Friends are singular: Thou of thy Phoenixes as well Mayst tell Thy tale, & be belev'd as soon That thou hast many of what scarce is one. 2 Shines thy Sun fair? that gorgeous light To shew a Freind is too too bright: The day with gloomy shades opprest Will best Discover Him, whose Worth by none But its own glorious rays is seen alone. 3 Alas thy fawning Courtiers be Friends of thy Fortune, not of Thee: Let her but frown, & they will do So too. Be warey then, & just as farr Rely on Them, as Thou canst trust to Her. 4 But hast thou met a faithfull Heart? In spight of Fortune blest thou art. Write others down @3Acquaintance@1, but yet Admit Sole him into thy @3Friends@1 dear Roll; Them in thine arms imbrace, Him in thy Soule. 5 For who is thy souls Spouse but He? O then with him contented be. Let chastity thy love commend And lend No ear to wanton Syrens, who Would thee to breach of Friendships wedlock woo. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTANICAL GARDENS by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE VOICELESS by OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ABYSS by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS THE TAY BRIDGE DISEASTER by WILLIAM MCGONAGALL SUMMER (2) by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI MEN OF VERDUN by LAURENCE BINYON |