Friendship’s Mystery, To my Dearest Lucasia

Come, my Lucasia, since we see

That Miracles Men's faith do move,

By wonder and by prodigy

To the dull angry world let’s prove

There’s a Religion in our Love.

2

For though we were design’d t’ agree,

That Fate no liberty destroyes,

But our Election is as free

As Angels, who with greedy choice

Are yet determin’d to their joyes.

3

Our hearts are doubled by the loss,

Here Mixture is Addition grown ;

We both diffuse, and both ingross :

And we whose minds are so much one,

Never, yet ever are alone.

4

We court our own Captivity

Than Thrones more great and innocent :

’Twere banishment to be set free,

Since we wear fetters whose intent

Not Bondage is, but Ornament.

5

Divided joyes are tedious found,

And griefs united easier grow :

We are our selves but by rebound,

And all our Titles shuffled so,

Both Princes, and both Subjects too.

6

Our Hearts are mutual Victims laid,

While they (such power in Friendship lies)

Are Altars, Priests, and Off’rings made :

And each Heart which thus kindly dies,

Grows deathless by the Sacrifice.