WRITTEN ON A PAPER, WHICH CONTAINED A PIECE OF BRIDE CAKE: GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR BY A LADY. William Collins Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T116245 1135 K093079.002 Pearch, G. A collection of poems in four volumes. By several hands. Vol. II. [The second edition]. London printed for G. Pearch 1770 pp. 46-47. 4v. ; 8⁰.

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WRITTEN ON A PAPER , WHICH CONTAINED A PIECE OF BRIDE CAKE : GIVEN TO THE AUTHOR BY A LADY . BY THE SAME . YE curious hands , that hid from vulgar eyes , By search profane shall find this hallow'd cake , With Virtue's awe forbear the sacred prize , Nor dare a theft for Love and Pity's sake ! This precious relick , form'd by magic power Beneath the shepherd's haunted pillow laid , Was meant by Love to charm the silent hour , The secret present of a matchless maid . The Cyprian queen , at Hymen's fond request , Each nice ingredient chose with happiest art ; Fears , sighs , and wishes of th' enamour'd breast , And pains that please are mixt in every part . With rosy hand the spicy fruit she brought From Paphian hills , and fair Cythera's isle ; And temper'd sweet with these the melting thought , The kiss ambrosial and the yielding smile . Ambiguous looks , that scorn and yet relent , Denials mild , and firm unalter'd truth , Reluctant pride , and amorous faint consent , And meeting ardours , and exulting youth . Sleep , wayward God ! hath sworn while these remain , With flattering dreams to dry his nightly tear , And chearful Hope , so oft invok'd in vain , With fairy songs shall sooth his pensive ear . If bound by vows to Friendship's gentle side , And fond of soul , thou hop'st an equal grace , If youth or maid thy joys and griefs divide , O much intreated , leave this fatal place . Sweet Peace , who long hath shunn'd my plaintive day , Consents at length to bring me short delight , Thy careless steps may scare her doves away , And Grief with raven note usurp the night .