Love

Madam, let an humble stranger

by Charles Cotton 1630–1687

From Poems on Several Occasions (1689)

Love

Madam, let an humble stranger
Give you Joy without the danger
Of correction from your brow;
And I fancy 'tis not easie
For the rudest to displease ye,
Y'are in so good an humour now.

Such a Treasure you have brought us,
As in gratitude has taught us
To praise and bless your happy Womb;
And since you have oblig'd so many,
You cannot but expect sure (can ye?)
To be thank'd at least by some.

A more wish'd-for Heir by Heaven
Ne'er to Family was given,
Nor a braver Boy to boot;
[…]iner ne'er was born before him,
One may know who got and bore him,
And now a days 'tis hard to do't.

You Copie well, for which the rather,
Since you so well have hit the Father,
Madam, once more try your skill
To bring of th'other Sex another
As Fair, and Good, and like the Mother,
And double 'em after when you will.

MLA

Cotton, Charles. “Madam, let an humble stranger.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cotton/37/.

Chicago

Cotton, Charles. “Madam, let an humble stranger.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cotton/37/.

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