To One persuading a Lady to Marriage

By Katherine Philips ('Orinda')

1631-1664


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.

DayPoems Poem No. 389
<a href="http://www.daypoems.net/poems/389.html">To One persuading a Lady to Marriage by Katherine Philips ('Orinda')</a>

The DayPoems Poetry Collection, www.daypoems.net
Timothy Bovee, editor

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