Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, A VIRGIN LIFE, by JANE BARKER


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

A VIRGIN LIFE, by             Poem Explanation        
First Line: Since gracious heven, you have bestow'd on me
Last Line: To serve her god, her neighbour, and her friends.
Subject(s): Life; Religion; Virginity; Theology; Vestals


Since gracious Heven, you have bestow'd on me
So great a kindness for verginity,
Suffer me not, to fall into the power,
Of mans, allmost omnipotent amour.
But in this happy state, let me remain,
And in chast verse, my chaster thoughts explain.
Fearless of twenty-five and all its rage,
When Time and beauty endless wars ingage,
And Fearless of the antiquated name,
Which oft makes happy maid turn helpless dame,
The scorn fix'd to that name our sex betray,
And often makes us fling our selves away.
Like harmless kids which are pursu'd by men,
For safty run into a Lyons den.
Ah lovely state how strange it is to see,
What mad conceptions, some have made of thee.
As if thy being was all wretchedness,
Or foul deformity ith' ugliest dress,
Whereas thy beauty's pure, celestial,
Thy thoughts divine, thy words Angelical:
And such ought all thy votaries to be,
Or else they'r so, but for necessity
A virgin bears the impress of all good,
Under that name, all vertue's understood.
To equal all her looks her mein, her dress
That nought but modesty, seems in excess.
When virgins any treats or visits make,
Tis not for tattle, but for friendship sake,
The neighboring poor are her adopted heirs,
And less she cares, for her own good than theirs.
And by obedience testifies she can
Be's good a subject as the stoutest man.
She to her church, such filial duty pays,
That one wou'd think she'd live'd ith' pristine days.
Her whole lives business, she drives to these ends,
To serve her god, her neighbour, and her friends.





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