Within the portal of her mouth’s locked fast
(Which, when she sings, she is enforced to show)
The Orient’s treasure in due order plac’d,
Of more than precious pearls a double row;
Which stand in seas-born coral borders chaste,
Like crimson satin purl’d with silver snow,
Her smooth and dimpled chin doth under lie
Where Envy’s self cannot a fault espy.
Samuel Pordage, ‘To His Mistress’ (1660 ), eighth stanza
Posted by divingforpearls 
