Rosa Nascosta

More than those
Enfranchised beauties her perfection shows,
Like a concealed rose,
But to the thickets where she lieth close.

These libertines
Encompass her with hardy-visaged spines;
She frets not nor repines,
But does their bidding meekly, and resigns

Herself to be
Their bond-servant, who shall be more than free
Having a liberty
There where her soul can fear no enemy.

There she doth find
All broad dominion and a heaven all kind,
In her unravisht mind
Whereto her brute possessioners are blind.

Possession goes
No deeper than the surface; there are mines
Far down, whose sacred fee
And golden hold no trammelling can bind.