An Hymeneal Dialogue

Groom.—TELL me, my Love, since Hymen tied The holy knot, hast thou not felt A new-infused spirit slide Into thy breast, whilst mine did melt?

Bride.—First tell me, Sweet, whose words were those? For though your voice the air did break, Yet did my soul the sense compose, And through your lips my heart did speak.

Groom.—Then I perceive, when from the flame Of love my scorched soul did retire, Your frozen heart in that place came, And sweetly melted in that fire.

Bride.—’Tis true, for when that mutual change Of souls was made, with equal gain, I straight might feel diffused a strange But gentle heat through every vein.

Bride.—Thy bosom then I’ll make my nest, Since there my willing soul doth perch. Groom.—And for my heart, in thy chaste breast, I’ll make an everlasting search.

O blest disunion, that doth so Our bodies from our souls divide; As two to one, and one four grow, Each by contraction multiplied.