To her Body

by Edward, Lord Herbert of Chirbury


Regardful Pretence !  whose fix'd Majesty
    Darts Admiration on the gazing Look,
That brings it not : State sits inthron'd in thee,
    Divulging forth her Laws in the fair Book
    Of thy Commandements, which none mistook,
That ever humbly came therein to see
Their own unworthiness : Oh !  how can I
    Enough admire that Symmetry, exprest
In new proportions, which doth give the Ly*
    To that Arithmetique which hath profest
All Numbers to be Hers ?  thy Harmony
    Comes from the Spheres, and there doth prove
Strange measures so well grac'd, as Majesty
    It self, like thee would rest, like thee would move.



* Lie.




Transcribed and coded by Anniina Jokinen from the Scolar Press
Facsimile of Occasional Verses of Edward Lord Herbert (1665)
Bodleian Library. Shelf-mark: Bliss. A.98. Wing H1508.
Transcription and code copyright ©2002 Anniina Jokinen.





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