[_To the State of Love, &c._ appeared first _1651_. The stanzas are not divided in the early editions, but are so in _1677_. Carew's _Rapture_ may have given some suggestions, Apuleius and Lucretius also; but not much is required. The substance is shocking to pure prudery, no doubt; but, as observed in the introduction, there is perhaps more gusto in the execution than in _Fuscara_. A copy of this poem, with many minor variants, is in Bodleian MS. Tanner 306, fol. 424: it has one noteworthy reading, 'took sey', i.e. 'say' or 'assay'--the hunting term--in l. 27.] [Lines: 2, 3 The use of capitals in the seventeenth century is so erratic that it is dangerous to base much on it. But both 'Seekers' and 'Shakers' (a variant of 'Quakers') were actually among the countless sects of the time, as well of course as 'Adamites'. _1651_. _1653_, _1654_, and _1657_ have 'tempt' for _1677_ 'sate'.] [Line: 4 pants _1677_: 'pulse' _1651_, _1653_, _1654_, _1657_.] [Line: 10 'You'd break a Lent' _1651_, _1653_.] [Lines: 11-13 Benlowes's lines (_v. sup._ i. 356)-- The lady prioress of the cloistered sky, &c.-- are more poetic than these, but may be less original. Even that, however, is uncertain. Both poets, though Benlowes was a good deal the elder, were of St. John's, and must, even in other ways, have known each other: _Theophila_ appeared a year after the edition in which this poem was first included. But the indebtedness may be the other way, or common to an earlier original, or non-existent.] [Line: 19 Deals out] The earlier texts have 'Dazzle's', but _1677_ seems here to have introduced the true reading found also in the _MS._ 'Deals out' is far more poetical: the eye clothes with its own reflection sky and stars, and earth.] [Lines: 20-3 The punctuation of all editions, including Mr. Berdan's, makes these lines either totally unintelligible, or very confused, by putting a stop at 'spectacles' and none at 'beams'. That adopted in the text makes it quite clear.] [Line: 30 circle] 'compass' _1651_, _1653_, evidently wrong.] [Line: 33 It is not impossible that Aphra Behn had these lines unconsciously in her head when she wrote her own finest passage. Unconsciously, for the drift is quite different; but 'hurled', 'amorous', and 'world' come close together in both.] [Line: 34 _1651_, _1653_ again 'compass' for 'girdle'.] [Line: 37 'would', the reading of _1651_, _1653_, infinitely better than 'could', that of _1677_.]