The Passionate Printer To His Love

Come live with me and be my Dear;
And till that happy bond shall lapse,
I’ll set your Poutings in Brevier,
Your praises in the largest CAPS.

There’s Diamond–’tis for your Eyes;
There’s Ruby–that will match your Lips;
Pearl, for your Teeth; and Minion-size
To suit your dainty Finger-tips.

In Nonpareil I’ll put your Face;
In Rubric shall your Blushes rise;
There is no Bourgeois in your Case;
Your Form can never need “Revise.”

Your Cheek seems “Ready for the Press”;
Your laugh as Clarendon is clear;
There’s more distinction in your Dress
Than in the oldest Elzevir.

So with me live, and with me die;
And may no “Finis” e’er intrude
To break into mere “Printer’s Pie”
The Type of our Beatitude!

(Erratum.–If my suit you flout,
And choose some happier Youth to wed,
‘Tis but to cross “Amanda” out,
And read another name instead.)
Amandus Typographicus