Classic Poem

Musidorus

Will you unto one single sense
Confine a starry Influence?
Or when you do the raies combine,
To themselves only make them shine?
Love that's engross'd by one alone,
Is envy, not affection

Orinda

No, Musidorus, this would be
But Friendship's prodigality;
Union in raies does not confine,
But doubles lustre when they shine,
And souls united live above
Envy, as much as scatter'd Love.
Friendship (like Rivers) as it multiplies
In many streams, grows weaker still and dies.

Musidorus

Rivers indeed may lose their force,
When they divide or break their course;
For they may want some hidden Spring,
Which to their streams recruits may bring:
But Friendship's made of purest fire,
Which burns and keeps its stock entire
Love, like the Sun, may shed his beams on all,
And grow more great by being general.

Orinda

The purity of friendship's flame
Proves that from simpathy it came,
And that the hearts so close do knit,
They no third partner can admit;
Love, like the Sun, does all inspire,
But burns most by contracted fire
Then though I honour every worthy guest,
Yet my Lucasia only rules my breast.