Annotations

For though we were design'd t'gree: The phrase design'd t'agree hints at Philips' view of female friendship, which was the cornerstone of her Society of Friendship (see annotation for Lucasia). In N.H. Keeble's The Cultural Identity of 17th Century Women: a reader, friendship between women was a satisfying and secure alternative to romantic entanglements or the solitude of a widowed or celibate state (252, Keeble). Stephanie Coontz [5], a historian at Evergreen State Univeristy in Washington explains that Victorian women were often extremely affectionate with each other, writing passionate letters and engaging in physical contact such as kissing, holding hands, and dancing; while this type of interaction may be interpreted as homosexuality in modern society, it was acceptable and commonplace for female friends in this time. In short, women in Philips' era were naturally very intimate and affectionate with each other.

FRIENDSHIP'S MYSTERYS:
TO MY DEAREST LUCASIA

Come, my Lucasia, since we see
    That miracles men's faith do move,
By wonder and by prodigy
    To the dull, angry world let's prove
    There's a religion in our Love.            5

For though we were design'd t'agree,
    That fate no liberty destroys,
But our election is as free
    As Angells, who with greedy choice
    Are yet determin'd to their Joys.         10

Our hearts are doubled by their loss,
    Here mixture is addition grown;
We both diffuse and both engross:
    And we, whose minds are so much one,
    Never, yet ever, are alone.

We court our own captivity,
    Then Thrones more great and innocent:
`Twere banishment to be set free,
    Since we weare fetters whose intent
    Not bondage is, but Ornament.           20

Divided Joys are tedious found,
    And griefs united easyer grow:
We are our selves but by rebound,
    And all our titles shuffled so,
    Both Princes, and both subjects too.

Our hearts are mutuall victims lay'd,
    While they (such power in friendship ly's)
Are Altars, Priests, and off'rings made,
And each heart which thus kindly dy's,
Grows deathless by the sacrifise.            30