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Home  »  A Book of Women’s Verse  »  A Wish for Her Retreat

J. C. Squire, ed. A Book of Women’s Verse. 1921.

By Anne, Countess of Winchilsea (1660–1720)

A Wish for Her Retreat

GIVE me there (since Heaven has shown

It was not good to be alone)

A partner suited to my mind,

Solitary, pleas’d and kind;

Who, partially, may something see

Preferr’d to all the world in me;

Slighting, by my humble side,

Fame and Splendour, Wealth and Pride.

When but two the Earth possest,

’Twas then happiest days, and best;

They by bus’ness, nor by wars,

They by no domestick cares,

From each other e’er were drawn,

But in some grove, or flow’ry lawn,

Spent the swiftly flying time,

Spent their own and Nature’s prime,

In Love; that only passion given

To perfect Man, whilst friends with Heaven.