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Pharaphrase on John 21. 17.

1 YEs, thou that knowest all, dost know I love thee,
2 And that I set no Idol up above thee,
3 To thy unerring censure I appael,
4 And thou that knowest all things, sure canst tell,
5 I Love thee more then Life or Interest,
6 Nor hast thou any Rival in my Breast;
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7 I Love thee so, that I would calmly bear;
8 The Mocks of Fools, and bless my happy Ear
9 Let me from thee but one kind whisper hear;
10 I Love thee so, that for a smile of thine,
11 Might this, and all the brighter Worlds be mine,
12 I would not pause, but with a noble Scorn,
13 At the unequal slighted offer spurn;
14 Yes, I to Fools these trifles can resign,
15 Nor envy them the World, whilst thou art mine;
16 I love thee as my Centre, and can find
17 No Point but thee to stay my doubtful mind;
18 Potent and uncontroul'd its Motions were,
19 Till fixt in thee its only congruous Sphere.
20 Urg'd with a thousand specious Baits, I stood,
21 Displeas'd, and sighing for some distant good,
22 To calm its genuine Dictates — but betwixt
23 Them all, remain'd suspended and unfixt.
24 I love thee so, 'tis more than Death to be,
25 My Life, my Love, my all, depriv'd of thee;
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26 'Tis Hell, 'tis Horror, shades and darkness then,
27 Till thou unveil'st thy Heavenly Face agen;
28 I Love thee so, I'de kiss the Dart should free
29 My flatterring Soul, and send her up to thee;
30 O would'st thou break her Chain, with what delight
31 She'd spread her Wings, and bid the world goodnight.
32 Scarce for my bright conductors would I stay,
33 But lead thy flaming Ministers the way,
34 In their known passage to eternal day.
35 And yet the Climes of Light would not seem fair,
36 Unless I met my bright Redeemer there;
37 Unless I saw my Shining Saviours Face,
38 And cop't all Heaven in his sweet embrace.

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About this text

Title (in Source Edition): Pharaphrase on John 21. 17.
Author: Elizabeth Rowe (née Singer)
Themes: biblical history
Genres: heroic couplet; paraphrase

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Source edition

Rowe, Elizabeth Singer, 1674-1737. Poems on several occasions. Written by Philomela. London: Printed for John Dunton at the Raven in Jewen-street, 1696, pp. 10-12. [24],72,69,[11]p.; 8⁰ (ESTC R7317; OTA A57734)

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The text has been typographically modernized, but without any silent modernization of spelling, capitalization, or punctuation. The source of the text is given and all editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. Based on the electronic text originally produced by the TCP project, this ECPA text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Other works by Elizabeth Rowe (née Singer)