Classic Poem

T wo Sexes, Marriage does unite,
And makes both, one Hermaphrodite .
But Friendship , has the pow'r alone,
To make two , of the same Sex, one .
Friendship , where e're it does take place,
Marries the Linage , and the Race ,
Adopts new Kindred , and new Blood ,
Takes Strangers , into Brotherhood ;
And by this new Choice , seeks to mend
What Miscarriages, on Birth attend.
Relations , which are born , not made ,
Our Love invite not, but invade .
For what Affection can there be,
Where there is Diff'rence in Degree?

If it be lawful to compare
A lesser , with a greater Sphere ,
Each House , a Kingdom is in short,
And govern'd, like the Turkish Court .
The Wife , no Office seems to have,
But of the Husband 's prime she- Slave .
For she apart no Rights can claim,
Nor has no Title to her Name .
The Child 's Condition nearest suits,
With the dumb Duty of the Mutes :
Nor Word , nor Bond , can he engage,
But lives a silent Pupillage.
When once the Sultan Father 's dead,
The Eldest does of right succeed,
And thrusts the yonger Brothers down
From their Inheritance , and Throne ,
Their Line's hereditary Place ,
And private Palace of their Race.
In arbitrary Families ,
Which seem Domestique Tyrannies ,
Parents , with Turkish Rigour sway,
Friends , ruling th' Europaean way,
So equally their Power share,
As they, all elder Brothers were.
Who, Brothers in the same Womb lay,
Cannot more Brothers be, then they.

Two Members , are not pair'd , like Friends ,
And when compar'd, are not more Twins .
Nor so to the same Flesh ally'd,
Nor closer knit, nor firmer ty'd.
Two eyes , that brother-Raies unite,
And twist them in one Point of Sight .
Nor in their Balls so like appear,
Nor mingle not their Beams , so near.
Though both the sympathising Pair ,
Agree, in what is foul , or fair .
Two Ears , that both the same Sound meet,
And are both by the same Nerves knit,
Are not so match't, though the same Sound ,
Or both does stroak , or both does wound .
Two Feet , that evenly contend,
United in the Way , and End ,
Less equally their Course direct,
And their conspiring Steps connect.
Nay, what is more then all, Two Friends ,
In their resembling Souls , are Twins .
As equal Strings , with Love unknown,
Move both , when one is strook alone,
Their trembling Heart-strings set alike,
One Joy does touch , one Grief does strike .