Katherine Philips. To the Excellent Mrs. Anne Owen, upon her receiving the name Of Lucasia.

Katherine Philips

To the Excellent Mrs. Anne
Owen, upon her receiving
the name Of Lucasia, and
Adoption into our Society,
December 28, 1651

     WE are complete, and Fate hath now
     No greater blessing to bestow;
     Nay, the dull World must now confess,
     We have all worth, all happiness.
Annals of State are trifles to our fame,
Now 'tis made sacred by Lucasia's name.

     But as though through a burning-glass
     The Sun more vigorous doth pass,
     Yet still with general freedom shines;
     For that contracts, but not confines:
So though by this her beams are fixèd here,
Yet she diffuses Glory everywhere.

     Her mind is so entirely bright,
     The splendour would but wound our sight,
     And must to some disguise submit,
     Or we could never worship it.
And we by this relation are allow'd
Lustre enough to be Lucasia's cloud.

     Nations will own us now to be
     A Temple of Divinity;
     And pilgrims shall ten ages hence
     Approach our tombs with reverence.
May then that time which did such bliss convey,
Be kept by us perpetual Holy-day.

Source:
Philips, Katherine. Poems, 1678.
in Minor Poets of the Caroline Period.
George Saintsbury, ed.
Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1905. 526.

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