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To the Vestals
To the Vestals
Those Priests which first the Vestall Fire begun,
Which might be borrow’d from no Earthly flame,
Deuis’d a Vessell to receiue the Sunne,
Being stedfastly opposed to the same:
Where, with sweet Wood, layd curiously by Art,
On which the Sunne might by reflection beat,
Receiuing strength from eu’ry secret part,
The Fuell kindled with Celestiall Heat.
Thy blessed Eyes, the Sunne which lights this Fire,
Thy holy Thoughts, they be the Vestall flame,
The precious Odors be my chaste Desires,
My Brest’s the Vessell, which includes the same:
Thou art my Vesta, thou my Goddesse art,
Thy hallow’d Temple onely is my Heart.