The Courtship (II)

I wrote my better poems there
To beauty’s praise I owe it
The muses they get all the praise
But woman makes the poet

A woman’s is the dearest love
There’s nought on earth sincerer
The leisure upon beauty’s breast
Can any thing be dearer

The muses they are living things
& beauty ever dear
& though I worshiped stocks & stones
T’was woman every where

In loves delight my steps was led
I sung of beauty’s choice
I saw her in the books I read
& all was Mary Joyce

I saw her love in beauty’s face
I saw her in the rose
I saw her in the fairest flowers
In every weed that grows

Till Patty fell in beauty’s way
That dearer loves recall
& stood a flower in beauty’s way
The lily of them all