| William Stanley Braithwaite, ed. The Book of Restoration Verse. 1910. | | | | A Song: ‘Persuade me not, there is a grace’ | | By Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilsea (1661–1720) |
| | | PERSUADE me not, there is a grace | |
| Proceeds from Silvia’s voice or lute, | |
| Against Miranda’s charming face | |
| To make her hold the least dispute. | |
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| Music, which tunes the soul for love, | 5 |
| And stirs up all our soft desires, | |
| Does but the glowing flame improve, | |
| Which pow’rful beauty first inspires. | |
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| Thus, whilst with art she plays, and sings | |
| I to Miranda, standing by, | 10 |
| Impute the music of the strings, | |
| And all the melting words apply. | | | | |
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