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The Parasceve, or Preparation

by Robert Herrick, 1647

To a love-feast we both invited are:
The figur’d damask, or pure diaper,
Over the golden altar now is spread,
With bread, and wine, and vessels furnished;
The sacred towel and the holy ewer
Are ready by, to make the guests all pure:
Let’s go, my Alma; yet, ere we receive,
Fit, fit it is we have our parasceve.
Who to that sweet bread unprepar’d doth come,
Better be starv’d, than but to taste one crumb.

Published in Noble Numbers
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