Article - True Lover's Knot

Where have I been? Well, that will be answered in my next post... In the meantime I found this on Letters of Note, who got it from Meg Shultz, the descendant of the recipient of the letter (more info on her blog). I thought you might like having a look at it too:

Click for enlargement

  

Transcript (straight copy pasted from letters of note)

(INTERWOVEN TRAIL, BEGINNING WITH LARGE CAPITAL 'A' ON LEFT-HAND SIDE)

A true Lovers Knot to thee my Dear I send, An Emblem of true Love without an end, Crossing turning, winding in and out, Never ceasing turning round about. And as thee sees its Linkes and Crosses here, so hath thy Beauty prov'd to me a Snare, By observation of true Love I find I am bereaved of both ♥ and mind.

Most lovely fair one look with pity down, And do not on thy faithful Lover frown, But pardon him who ever doth thy Love desire, And ever will thy Beauteous form admire.

Therefore thou Lovely fair one let thy Beauty shine, With Beams of Comfort ravishing and divine, That so my raving Soul may by thy Love, Pass into Bliss if we both constant prove, Then shall these Crosses in this Knot of Love, Be all disdain'd if thou consenting prove.

Here is an Impression of my ♥ thee may see, Within this Knot that I present, to thee, Therefore thee may imagine that I am in grief, And none but thee can yield to me Relief, My ravished Soul doth ever long to see, The Marriage Knot so firmly ty'd between thee and me.

(TOP CENTRE CIRCLE)

Why do I Love, go ask
the Alerious Sun
Why every Day he around the World doth run
Ask Thames and Tiber why they Ebb and flow
Ask Damask Roses why in June the grow.
They shew to us how everything doth move
Thus teaching them to that, and me
to Love.
Mary Fisher
Bedford County Decem'r 9th
1801

(RIGHT CIRCLE)

There is but one
And only one
And I am only he
That loves but one
And only one
And thou art the only she
Requite me with like love again
And say thus unto me —
There is but one, And only one
And thou art the only he.
Mary Fisher

(BOTTOM CENTRE CIRCLE)

Accept lovely fair Maid
From thy neighbor and friend
Each wish that can friendship endear
May the bounty of Heaven propitiously endear
Long Life and Happy each Year.
May every enjoyment which prudence allow
Thy Life Long continue to Bless —
May Love and Esteem
Weave a Wreath for thy Brow
And thy Beauty be crown'd with Success.
Mary Fisher

(LEFT CIRCLE)

As soon grief shall
sink into my ♥
2CUX my Love without desert (?)
You have a ♥, a double ♥, I fear.
2 great a X of ♥ oh ♥ forbear
AX, AX, ICUB,
A double XU are to me.

H Pugh [Monogram]

This Ring is round
And hath no end
So is my Love
To thee my Friend
Mary Fisher

(DIAGONAL RECTANGLE, TOP LEFT)

Here I dare venture with my Love a lot (?)
In Half an Hour she does not read my Knot

(DIAGONAL RECTANGLE, TOP RIGHT)

And if she wins I'll freely pay my Debt,
But if she loses the I'll claim my Bett.

(DIAGONAL RECTANGLE, BOTTOM RIGHT)

As for description, A begins thee will find,
E Ends the same, be constant in thy mind.

(DIAGONAL RECTANGLE, BOTTOM LEFT)

Lovers well know what it is to part,
When between 2 Lovers there is but one ♥

H Pugh [Monogram]

(8 SMALL OUTER BOXES)

My ♥ you have
Your ♥ I crave

My ♥ you have
Confin'd

And leaves all other
Hearts behind.

(4 TINY CORNER DIAGONAL BOXES)

If thou refuse me

I must say
thou art

An unconstant
Creature

With a double ♥