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Classic poem

Friendship Between Ephelia And Ardelia

by Anne Kingsmill Finch

Eph. What Friendship is, ARDELIA shew.

Ard. 'Tis to love, as I love You.

Eph. This Account, so short (tho' kind)

Suits not my enquiring Mind.

Therefore farther now repeat;

What is Friendship when complete?

Ard. 'Tis to share all Joy and Grief;

'Tis to lend all due Relief

From the Tongue, the Heart, the Hand;

'Tis to mortgage House and Land;

For a Friend be sold a Slave;

'Tis to die upon a Grave,

If a Friend therein do lie.

Eph. This indeed, tho' carry'd high,

This, tho' more than e'er was done

Underneath the rolling Sun,

This has all been said before.

Can ARDELIA say no more?

Ard. Words indeed no more can shew:

But 'tis to love, as I love you.

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Public domain/Source

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