Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Francis Quarles. 15921644276. A Divine Rapture
E’EN like two little bank-dividing brooks, | |
That wash the pebbles with their wanton streams, | |
And having ranged and search’d a thousand nooks, | |
Meet both at length in silver-breasted Thames, | |
Where in a greater current they conjoin: | 5 |
So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine. | |
E’en so we met; and after long pursuit, | |
E’en so we joined; we both became entire; | |
No need for either to renew a suit, | |
For I was flax, and He was flames of fire: | 10 |
Our firm-united souls did more than twine; | |
So I my Best-belovèd’s am; so He is mine. | |
If all those glittering Monarchs, that command | |
The servile quarters of this earthly ball, | |
Should tender in exchange their shares of land, | 15 |
I would not change my fortunes for them all: | |
Their wealth is but a counter to my coin: | |
The world ‘s but theirs; but my Belovèd’s mine. |