The humble Petition of a beautiful young LADY, To the Rev. Dr. BERKLEY, Dean of Londonderry , which he quits…

Dear doctor, here comes a young virgin untainted, To your shrine at Bermudas, to be married and sainted; I am young, I am soft, I am blooming and tender, And of all that I have, I make you a surrender. My innocence, led by the voice of your fame, To your person and virtue must put in its claim; And now I behold you, I truly believe, That you're as like Adam as I am like Eve: But then (as in you a new race has begun) Are teaching to fly from the shade to the sun: Before, the dire serpent their virtue betray'd, And taught them to fly from the sun to the shade, For you, in great goodness, your friends are persuading To go, and to live, and be wise in your Eden. Oh let me go with you; oh pity my youth; Oh take me from hence, let me not lose my truth. Sure you, that have virtue so much in your mind, Can't think to leave me, who am virtue, behind. If you make me your wife, sir, in time you may fill a Whole town with your children, and likewise your villa: I famous for breeding, you famous for knowledge, I'll found a whole nation, you'll found a whole college: And when many long ages in joys we have spent, Our souls we'll resign with the utmost content; And gently we'll sink between cypress and yew, You lying by me, and I lying by you.