Edmund Arwaker (c.1655-1730) composed Pia Desideria
or Divine Addresses in three books. The phrase "my white neck" appears
in Desires of the Religious Soul chapter VI written in 1712.
This poem presents a feminine speaker who longs for the vanities of a spotless
appearance and of rich accouterments of precious gems in order to impress
her beloved. In lines 371-374, the speaker wistfully declares:
"With double Pearls I'd hang my loaded Ears,
Whilst my white Neck vast Chains of Rubies wears.
Thus I among the Fairest wou'd be seen,
And dare vie Beauty, ev'n with Sheba's Queen."
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