1Come
, my dear pledges
of our
constant loves, 2Come look upon these pretty, innocent doves
, 3See how they swallow orient pearls
like peas; 4A cordial
, which our greatest faintings
ease. 5And with their lives ere with these pearls they’ll part;
6So, treasure sacred truths within your heart.
7Though tyrant lapidaries
show their spite, 8Your graces, like these pearls, will shine more bright.
9Despair not, though you at their mercy lie;
10Your virtues live although your bodies die.
11Then if you will in glory live above,
12Like these white doves those blessed unions
love, 13But shun those people which are like those swine
14Which at God’s word and ministers repine
. 15Throw them the choicest orient pearls you have,
16They’ll trample’m in the dirt
and ramp
and rave, 17And when you think their malice at an end,
18If God restrain not, they’ll your bowels rend
. 19Of these, the boar God’s vineyards that destroy
, 20And with their filth His sacred fane annoy
. 21So mad Antiochus
the temple stained, 22Even so our janissaries
Paul’s profaned
, 23Making the church a stable
and a stews
, 24The while imprisoning nobles in the mews
. 25The greatest miracle our saviour wrought
26Was when He scourged out those which sold and bought
.