The Passionate Printer to His Love

With Apologies to the Shade of Christopher Marlowe

[Ed. Note: The terms in italics are either type-fonts or common printer's terms. --Nelson]

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

Austin Dobson