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First Line: Only the island which we sow
Last Line: "to be imbued."
Subject(s): Country Life


ONLY the Island which we sow
(A world without the world) so far
From present wounds, it cannot show
An ancient scar.

White Peace (the beautiful'st of things)
Seems here her everlasting rest
To fix, and spreads her downy wings
Over the nest.

As when great Jove, usurping reign,
From the plagued world did her exile
And tied her with a golden chain
To one blest Isle:

Which in a sea of plenty swam,
And turtles sang on every bough,
A safe retreat to all that came,
As ours is now.

Believe me, Ladies, you will find
In that sweet life more solid joys,
More true contentment to the mind,
Than all town toys.

Nor Cupid there less blood doth spill,
But heads his shafts with chaster love,
Not feathered with a sparrow's quill,
But of a dove.

There shall you hear the nightingale
(The harmless syren of the wood)
How prettily she tells a tale
Of rape and blood.

The lyric lark, with all beside
Of nature's feathered quire; and all
The Commonwealth of flowers in'ts pride
Behold you shall.

The lily (queen), the (royal) rose,
The gillyflower (prince of the blood),
The (courtier) tulip (gay in clothes),
The (regal) bud.

The violet (purple senator),
How they do mock the pomp of state
And all that at the surly door
Of great ones wait.

Plant trees you may, and see them shoot
Up with your children, to be served
To your clean boards and the fairest fruit
To be preserved:

And learn to use their several gums,
"'Tis innocence in the sweet blood
Of cherry, apricocks, and plums
To be imbued."





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