Souls of Poets dead and gone,
What Elysium have ye known,
Happy field or mossy cavern,
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?
Have ye tippled drink more fine
Than mine host's Canary wine?
Or are fruits of Paradise
Sweeter than those dainty pies
Of venison? O generous food!
Drest as though bold Robin Hood
Would, with his maid Marian,
Sup and bowse from horn and can.

I have heard that on a day
Mine host's sign-board flew away,
Nobody knew whither, till
An astrologer's old quill
To a sheepskin gave the story,
Said he saw you in your glory,
Underneath a new old-sign
Sipping beverage divine,
And pledging with contented smack
The Mermaid in the Zodiac.

Souls of Poets dead and gone,
What Elysium have ye known,
Happy field or mossy cavern,
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?

I you desir'd my bosom friend,
Now if you can think it so,
Pray yield all pleasures to my mind,
And make much happiness to flow,

Sure its decreed by the pow'rs above,
As I'm now oblig'd to think,
We'll lay aside all flattering words,
And close in love's embraces link.

What though envy and lying tongues,
'Gainst you their utmost forces bend,
And some makes money all their hope,
While love, you know's, a lasting friend.

When absent from your company,.
'Tis great uneasiness to me,
But hope again makes love remain,
I'm still rejoicing thee to see.

At night when I go to my rest,
Thinking to get some sweet repose,
Your image still is with me there,
Sweeter far than any rose.

But yet far short of the sweet joys,
That love's embraces now have press'd,
In thy soft arms to be enclos'd,
And there in silence sleep to rest.

I will guard thee round about,
Myself, I'm sure, shall be the door,
And if thy heart chance to steal out,
I vow I'll never love thee more.

Though father fret, and mother scold,
Although that all my friends should frown,
All that I have thou art sure of,
And well may think it all thine own.

I have not time to make more rhyme,
So well's my judgment could express,
But I am thine, and heart and mind,
Sincerely hope the Lord will bless.

If you'll be true as I'm to you,
So shall you find me evermore,
I add no more, but so I rest,
Sincere your true love and your dear.