TO THE Right HONOURABLE THE LADY E. R. Vpon her finding a Spider in her BED. Thomas D'Urfey Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. R17889 D'Urfey, Thomas, 1653-1723. New poems, consisting of satyrs, elegies, and odes together with a choice collection of the newest court songs set to musick by the best masters of the age / all written by Mr. D'Urfey. London Printed for J. Bullord ... and A. Roper ... 1690 pp. 37-39. [16],207,[1]p.

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TO THE Right HONOURABLE THE LADY E. R. Vpon her finding a Spider in her BED . SEE what Revenge great Love doth still prepare To fright and punish the relentless Fair ; Into that Bed , where by your cruel doom , No passionate Admirer e'er might come ; Where Heaven on Earth no Eye but Heaven sees , And cold Virginity alone does freeze ; Where Beauty blossoms , and in folded sweets , A Body whiter than the snowy Sheets : This black detested crawling thing was sent From angry Venus for your punishment ; This is , she cry'd , her that prophan'd my Rites , Laugh'd at my Laws , neglected my Delights , Flush'd with a Pride of Virtue durst withstand Loves fiercest Darts , and Natures great Command , Is now condemn'd by the avenging Fates , T' a Bed-fellow , which above all she hates . Thus Andromeda flourish'd in her Prime ; Thus laugh'd at Love , and thus still lost her time , Whilst bounteous Pity her fair Breast did warm , The Powers above protected her from harm , But when her Rigour to contempt presum'd Her blooming Beauties to a Monster doom'd ; And though the Cries of an afflicted Maid , Brought the renown'd Perseus to her aid ; Had not her Will been tun'd t' another strain The Warrior ne'r had loos'd her from the Chain , Love's Harmony in well tun'd Hearts appears Alike their hopes , and still alike their fears . No jarring Sounds the Consort can molest The charming Musick fills each happy Breast , Their Wills unite , and their charm'd Souls agree . Like two soft Flutes , when sounding in one key , When honourable Love with humble Grace , And Merit pleads to fill the happy space , By your sweet side shall Spiders claim a place , Shall Rival Insects own a Love-like ours , And lay their sprawling filthy Limbs by yours : Ah , Madam , then must all Mankind proclaim 'Tis punishment to you , to them a shame . No more Adorers then of Hopes bereave , But to your Bed some generous Love receive , Marriage , like Irish Wood has such a Charm , No Venom dares approach to do you harm : If you would have no hated Spiders come To Bed , let Love and Honor fill the Room .