Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children
Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children
1A Curious Knot God made in Paradise,
3It was the True-Love Knot, more sweet than spice
4 And set with all the flowres of Graces dress.
6 No Alexanders Sword can it divide.
7The slips here planted, gay and glorious grow:
8 Unless an Hellish breath do sindge their Plumes.
9Here Primrose, Cowslips, Roses, Lilies blow
10 With Violets and Pinkes that voide perfumes.
11 Whose beautious leaves ore laid with Hony Dew.
12 And Chanting birds Cherp out sweet Musick true.
13When in this Knot I planted was, my Stock
15And after it my branch again did knot
19But oh! a glorious hand from glory came
20 Guarded with Angells, soon did Crop this flowere
21Which almost tore the root up of the same
22 At that unlookt for, Dolesome, darksome houre.
23 In Pray're to Christ perfum'de it did ascend,
24 And Angells bright did it to heaven tend.
25But pausing on't, this sweet perfum'd my thought,
26 Christ would in Glory have a Flowre, Choice, Prime,
27And having Choice, chose this my branch forth brought.
28 Lord, take't. I thanke thee, thou takst ought of mine,
29 It is my pledg in glory, part of mee
30 Is now in it, Lord, glorifi'de with thee.
34 The which the former hand soon got away.
35 But oh! the tortures, Vomit, screechings, groans,
36 And six weeks fever would pierce hearts like stones.
37Griefe o're doth flow: and nature fault would finde
38 Were not thy Will, my Spell, Charm, Joy, and Gem:
39That as I said, I say, take, Lord, they're thine.
40 I piecemeale pass to Glory bright in them.
41 I joy, may I sweet Flowers for Glory breed,
42 Whether thou getst them green, or lets them seed.
Notes
2] inamled: enamelled. Back to Line
5] Weddens: wedding. Back to Line
14] a manly flower: Edward’s son Samuel (born August 27, 1675). Back to Line
16] another Flowre: Edward’s daughter Elizabeth (born December 27, 1676, died December 25, 1677). Back to Line
17] tother: another (“the other”). Back to Line
18] Checkling: chuckling. Back to Line
31] ore: over. Back to Line
32] another manly flower: Edward’s son James (born October 12, 1678). Back to Line
33] another, sweet: Edward’s daughter Abigail (born August 6, 1681, died August 22, 1682). Back to Line
Publication Notes
Text: The Poems of Edward Taylor, ed. Donald E. Stanford with a forward by Louis L. Martz (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1960): 468-70.
First published: The poetical works of Edward Taylor, ed. Thomas Johnson (New York: Rockland editions, 1939): 290-322.
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire