A Tart

Life took some flour of white complexions made;1
Churned nourishment as butter she did add,2
And knead3 it well; then on a board it placed,4
And rolled it oft, until a pie was raised.5
Then did she take some lips, like cherries6 red,                      5
And sloe-black eyes from a fair virgin’s head,
And strawberry teats from high banks of7 white breast,
And juice from raspis fingers ends did press.8
These she put in the pie, and did it9 bake
Within a heart, which she straight hot did make.                  10
Then drew it out with reason’s peel, and sends10
It up to Nature; she it much commends.11

  1. of white complexions made;] made of Complexions white, 1653
  2. nourishment as butter she did add,] Butter, by Nourishment, as cleane as might: 1653
  3. knead] kneads 1653
  4. placed,] laies 1653
  5. rolled it oft, until a pie was raised.] roules it oft, and so a Pye did raise. 1653
  6. lips, like cherries] Cherry Lips that’s 1653
  7. high banks of] th’Banks of each 1664; th’banks of each 1668
  8. juice from raspis fingers ends did press.] Fingers ends like Juice from Raspes prest; 1664; Fingers-ends, like Juyce from Raspes prest. 1668
  9. she put in the pie, and did it] put into a Pye, which soone did 1653
  10. and sends] to send 1664, 1668
  11. to Nature; she it much commends.] This Meat did Nature much commend. 1664, 1668