Katherine Philips. To My Dearest Antenor, on His Parting.

Katherine Philips

To my dearest Antenor on his parting.

Though it be Just to grieve when I must part
With him that is the Guardian of my heart,
Yet by a happy change, the loss of mine
Is with advantage paid, in having thine,
And I (by that deare Guest instructed) find
Absence can doe no hurt to souls combin'd.
As we were born to love; brought to agree
By the impressions of divine decree,
So when united nearer we became,
It did not weaken but increase our flame.
Unlike to those who distant Joys admire
But slight them, when possest of their desire.
Each of our souls did its own temper fit
And in the others mold so fashion'd it
That now our inclinations both are growne
Like to our interests, in persons, One.
And Souls whom such a Union fortify's
Passion can ne're betray, nor Fate surprize.
Now as in watches, though we doe not know
When the hand moves—we find it still doth go.
So I by secret sympathy inclin'd
Will absent meet, & understand thy mind.
And thou at thy return, shalt find thy heart
Still safe, with all the Love thou didst impart
For though that Treasure I have ne're deserv'd
It shall with strong religion be preserv'd.
But besides this thou shalt in me survey,
Thy self reflected while thou art away.
For what some forward arts doe undertake
The images of absent friends to make,
And represent their actions in a Glasse
Friendship it self can onely bring to passe
That magique which both fate & time beguil's,
And in a moment run's a thousand miles.
So in my Brést thy Picture drawn shall be,
My guide, Life, object, friend, & destiny.
And none shall know though they employ their wit,
Which is the right Antenor; thou, or it.

Transcribed by Anniina Jokinen from the National Library of Wales MS
of poems by Katharine Philips; NLW MS 775B, (3,5).

Citation:
Philips, Katherine. "To my dear Antenor on his parting."
Anniina Jokinen, ed. Luminarium.
26 Nov 2006. [date you accessed this page].
<http://www.luminarium.org/sevenlit/philips/antenorparting.htm>

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