How blest the sacred tie that binds

In union sweet according minds!

How swift the heavenly course they run

Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes are one!

To each, the soul of each how dear,

What jealous love, what holy fear!

How doth the generous flame within

Refine from earth and cleanse from sin!

Their streaming tears together flow

For human guilt and mortal woe;

Their ardent prayers together rise,

Like mingling flames in sacrifice.

Together both they seek the place

Where God reveals his awful face;

How high, how strong, their raptures swell,

There’s none but kindred souls can tell.

Nor shall the glowing flame expire

When nature droops her sickening fire;

Then shall they meet in realms above

A heaven of joy—because of love.

Text: Poems by Anna Laetitia Barbauld. New Ed. (London: Printed for Joseph Johnson, St. Paul’s Church-Yard, 1792), pp. 125-26.