"Love join'd their Souls, and Heav'n seal'd each Heart"
— Sedley, Sir Charles (1639-1701)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
J. Nutt
Date
1702
Metaphor
"Love join'd their Souls, and Heav'n seal'd each Heart"
Metaphor in Context
We'll take a Rustick Couple for our Scenes,
Who Love, and know not what Ambition means:
Who such an even competence possess,
What may support, but not disturb their Bliss.
See how unmov'd they at all Changes stand,
Shipwrecks at Sea, and Earthquakes on the Land:
The Fraud of Courts, the Knavish Toil of Clowns,
A Monarch's Favour, or his pointed Frowns,
Concern them not; they but themselves abuse,
In valuing that they ne'er intend to use.
Each to the other proves a solid Bliss,
Rich in themselves no want of Happiness.
Like Ægypt, in whose Land all Plenty grows,
Each others Bottom is their best Repose.
When clam'rous Storms, and pitchy Tempests rise,
Cheek clings to Cheek, and swimming Eyes to Eyes:
When jarring Winds and dreadful Thundres Roar,
It serves to make 'em Press, and Love the more.
Immortal Beings thus themselves Cajol,
Spurn stinking Sense, and feed upon the Soul.
Here let us leave them bathing in pure Joy,
Whom envious Man, nor Fate can e'er destroy.
Here let 'em live to share all Wealth and Pow'r,
As Greatness can't love less, they can't love more.
To the Divinest State of things they drive,
Like Pilgrim-Angels, on the Earth they live,
Kind Nature gave them, Fortune bore no part,
Love join'd their Souls, and Heav'n seal'd each Heart.
Who Love, and know not what Ambition means:
Who such an even competence possess,
What may support, but not disturb their Bliss.
See how unmov'd they at all Changes stand,
Shipwrecks at Sea, and Earthquakes on the Land:
The Fraud of Courts, the Knavish Toil of Clowns,
A Monarch's Favour, or his pointed Frowns,
Concern them not; they but themselves abuse,
In valuing that they ne'er intend to use.
Each to the other proves a solid Bliss,
Rich in themselves no want of Happiness.
Like Ægypt, in whose Land all Plenty grows,
Each others Bottom is their best Repose.
When clam'rous Storms, and pitchy Tempests rise,
Cheek clings to Cheek, and swimming Eyes to Eyes:
When jarring Winds and dreadful Thundres Roar,
It serves to make 'em Press, and Love the more.
Immortal Beings thus themselves Cajol,
Spurn stinking Sense, and feed upon the Soul.
Here let us leave them bathing in pure Joy,
Whom envious Man, nor Fate can e'er destroy.
Here let 'em live to share all Wealth and Pow'r,
As Greatness can't love less, they can't love more.
To the Divinest State of things they drive,
Like Pilgrim-Angels, on the Earth they live,
Kind Nature gave them, Fortune bore no part,
Love join'd their Souls, and Heav'n seal'd each Heart.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "seal" and "soul" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Sedley, Sir Charles. The Miscellaneous Works of the honourable Sir Charles Sedley, Bart.. London: J. Nutt, 1702.
Date of Entry
04/19/2005
