1

No, doubtlesse; for the mind can backward cast
Vpon her selfe, her vnderstanding light;

But she is so corrupt, and so defac't,

As her owne image doth her selfe affright.

As in the fable of the Lady faire,

Which for her lust was turnd into a cow ;9
When thirstie to a streame she did repaire,
And saw her selfe transform'd she wist not how :

At first she startles, then she stands amaz'd,

At last with terror she from thence doth flye;
And loathes the watry glasse wherein she gaz'd,
And shunnes it still, though she for thirst doe die :

Euen so Man's Soule which did God's image beare, And was at first faire, good, and spotlesse pure ; Since with her sinnes her beauties blotted were, Doth of all sights her owne sight least endure:

For euen at first reflection she espies,

Such strange chimeraes, and such monsters there;
Such toyes, such antikes, and such vanities,

As she retires, and shrinkes for shame and feare.

9 Io. G.

And as the man loues least at home to bee,
That hath a sluttish house haunted with spirits ;1
So she impatient her owne faults to see,

Turnes from her selfe and in strange things delites.

For this few know themselues: for merchants broke View their estate with discontent and paine; And seas are troubled, when they doe reuoke Their flowing waues into themselues againe.

And while the face of outward things we find,
Pleasing and faire, agreeable and sweet;
These things transport, and carry out the mind,
That with her selfe her selfe2 can neuer meet.

Yet if Affliction once her warres begin,

And threat the feebler Sense with sword and fire ; The Minde contracts her selfe and shrinketh in, And to her selfe she gladly doth retire :

As Spiders toucht, seek their webs inmost part ;
As bees in stormes vnto their hiues returne;
As bloud in danger gathers to the heart;
As men seek towns, when foes the country burn.

1 In 1599 and 1608 more accurately 'sprites' G. 2 Davies and Southey substitute 'the mind' G.

If ought can teach vs ought, Afflictions lookes,
(Making vs looke3 into our selues so neere,)
Teach vs to know our selues beyond all bookes,
Or all the learned Schooles that euer were.

This mistresse lately pluckt me by the eare,
And many a golden lesson hath me taught;
Hath made my Senses quicke, and Reason cleare,
Reform'd my Will and rectifide my Thought.

So doe the winds and thunders cleanse the ayre;
So working lees* settle and purge the wine;
So lop't and prunèd trees doe flourish faire
So doth the fire the drossie gold refine.

Neither Minerua nor the learned Muse,

Nor rules of Art, nor precepts of the wise;
Could in my braine those beames of skill infuse,
As but the glance of this Dame's angry eyes.

She within lists my ranging minde hath brought,
That now beyond my selfe I list not goe;

3 Davies and Southey, as before, mis-substitute 'pry.' G. 4 An overlooked misprint here is 'seas': found in all the author's own editions, and repeated until now, e.g. by Thomas Davies and Southey, as before. G.

5 Bounds as in Race-courses. G.

:

6 Thoms Davies, as before, mis-reads 'will' G.

My selfe am center of my circling thought,
Onely my selfe I studie, learne, and know.

I know my bodie's of so fraile a kind,

As force without, feauers within can kill ;
I know the heauenly nature of my minde,
But 'tis corrupted both in wit and will:

I know my Soule hath power to know all things,
Yet is she blinde and ignorant in all ;
I know I am one of Nature's little kings,
Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall.

I know my life's a paine and but a span,

I know my Sense is mockt with euery thing : And to conclude, I know my selfe a MAN, Which is a proud, and yet a wretched thing.

OF THE SOULE OF MAN AND THE

IMMORTALITE THEREOF.

THE lights of hear'n (which are the World's fair eies)
Looke downe into the World, the World to see;

And as they turne, or wander in the skies,
Suruey all things that on this Center bee.

And yet the lights which in my towre do shine,
Mine eyes which view all obiects, nigh and farre;
Looke not into this little world of mine,
Nor see my face, wherein they fixèd are.

Since Nature failes vs in no needfull thing,

Why want I meanes my inward selfe to see? Which sight the knowledg of my self might bring, Which to true wisdome is the first degree.

That Power which gaue me eyes the World to view,
To see my selfe infus'd an inward light;
Whereby my Soule, as by a mirror true,

Of her owne forme may take a perfect sight,