To My Dear and Loving Husband

T
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If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if you can.
I prizeprize Value thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Or all the riches that the Eastthe East East Indies, southeast Asia, including india; the english East India Company began in 1600. doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,My ... rivers cannot quench Compare the song of Solomon: “Muche water can not quenche love, nether can the floods drowne it." (Geneva Bible) Also, quench could mean to satisfy.
Nor oughtought Anything but love from thee give recompenserecompense Return payment; reward.
Thy love is such I can no way repay;
The heavens reward thee manifoldmanifold In abundance, I pray.
Then while we live, in love let’s so perseverpersever Both to continue steadfastly, and in the Theological sense to remain in a state of grace. An earlier spelling of the word “persevere.”,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
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