Against the owner; whose design It is that nothing be reputed fine, In him, obdurate wretch, who yields But being, like his loved gold, Uncapable of any heav'nly bliss. His gold and he Do well agree, For he's a formal hypocrite, Like that, unfruitful, yet on th' outside bright. Ah, happy infant! wealthy heir! How blessed did the heaven and earth appear Called gold! barren of good, of ill the spring Beyond compare! Most quiet were Those infant days when I did see Wisdom and wealth couched in simplicity. Right apprehension II If this I did not ev'ry moment see, And if my thoughts did stray At any time, or idly play, Securëd my felicity. The rapture O heavenly fire! O sacred light! O great and sacred blessedness Sweet infancy! How fair and bright! How great am I, magnify! O heavenly joy! Which I possess! So great a joy vey? 70 80 Whom the whole world doth Who did into my arms con 10 ! From God above Oh, how divine Being sent, the gift doth me in- Am I! To all this sacred flame To praise his name; wealth, This life and health, Who raised? who mine The sun doth shine, to show his Did make the same? what hand Dame Nature told me there was endless space Within my soul; I spied its very face. Sure it not for nought appears; What is there which a man may see Beyond the spheres? Felicity. There in the mind of God, that sphere of love, All other spheres, A man may see himself, the world, the bride Of God, his church, which as they there are eyed, Strangely exalted each appears; His mind is higher than the space Above the spheres, No empty space-it is all full of sight, All soul and life, an eye most bright, Which doth at once all things possess and give, It rests at quiet, and doth move; A scene above All interludes. Dreams 'Tis strange! I saw the skies, I saw the hills before mine eyes, The lands that did about me lie, 20 10 20 Can closed eyes ev'n in the darkest night The people were to me As true as those by day I see, The earth as sweet, as fresh, as fair, What sacred secret's this Which seems to intimate my bliss? The narrow confines of my skin May all that I can see No difference, but all was true, As real all as what I view; The world itself was there; 'twas wondrous strange Till that which vulgar sense Doth falsely call experience Distinguished things, The ribands, and the gaudy wings Of birds, the virtues and the sins, That represented were in dreams by night, As really my senses did delight Or grieve, as those I saw By day; things terrible did awe The apparitions seemed as near Yet were they all by fancy in me wrought, Oh, what a thing is thought! Yet doth the mind 10 20 30 40 Affect as much as what we find Most near and true! Sure men are blind, And can't the forcible reality Thought! Surely thoughts are true; They please as much as things can do; And in themselves are severëd Insatiableness This busy, vast, inquiring soul No limits will endure, 'Tis mean ambition to desire Though one upon another hurled; This busy, vast, inquiring soul 'Tis very curious too. Each one of all those worlds must be Enriched with infinite variety And worth, or 'twill not do. 'Tis nor delight nor perfect pleasure That hath a bottom in its treasure, Since I must thence endless expense disburse. One infinite. The review Did I grow, or did I stay? Did I prosper or decay, When I so From things to thoughts did go? 50 10 26 Did I flourish or diminish, Should more delight me than the skies; Affect, afflict, do ease or grind; But foolish thoughts ensnare. Wise ones are a sacred treasure; I things as shades esteem. But he that misemploys God, men, and angels doth defy, FROM Christian Ethics, 1675 [All music, sauces, feasts] All music, sauces, feasts, delights, and pleasures, SIR FRANCIS KYNASTON 10 20 30 The Introduction and Notes are at page 1028 FROM Cynthiades, or Amorous Sonnets, published with Leoline and Sydanis, 1642 On her fair eyes Look not upon me with those lovely eyes, |