IX

As other men, so I myself do muse
Why in this sort I wrest invention so,
And why these giddy metaphors I use,
Leaving the path the greater part do go.
I will resolve you. I'm a lunatic;
And ever this in madmen you shall find,

What they last thought of when the brain grew

sick,

In most distraction they keep that in mind.

Thus talking idly in this bedlam fit,

Reason and I, you must conceive, are twain ;
'Tis nine years now since first I lost my wit.
Bear with me then though troubled be my
With diet and correction men distraught,

brain.

Not too far past, may to their wits be brought.

X

To nothing fitter can I thee compare
Than to the son of some rich penny-father,

Who having now brought on his end with care,
Leaves to his son all he had heaped together.
This new rich novice, lavish of his chest,
To one man gives, doth on another spend ;
Then here he riots; yet amongst the rest,
Haps to lend some to one true honest friend.
Thy gifts thou in obscurity dost waste:

False friends, thy kindness born but to deceive thee;

Thy love that is on the unworthy placed;

Time hath thy beauty which with age will leave thee.

Only that little which to me was lent,

I give thee back when all the rest is spent.

XI

YOU'RE not alone when you are still alone;
O God! from you that I could private be !
Since you one were, I never since was one ;
Since you in me, myself since out of me.

Transported from myself into your being, Though either distant, present yet to either; Senseless with too much joy, each other seeing ; And only absent when we are together.

Give me my self, and take your self again!

Devise some means but how I

may

forsake you

So much is mine that doth with you remain,

That taking what is mine, with me I take you. You do bewitch me ! O that I could fly

From my self you, or from your own self I!

!

TO THE SOUL

XII

THAT learned Father which so firmly proves
The soul of man immortal and divine,

And doth the several offices define

Anima.

Amor.
Animus.

Mens.

Memoria.

Ratio.

Sensus.

Gives her that name, as she the body

moves.

Then is she love, embracing charity.
Moving a will in us, it is the mind;
Retaining knowledge, still the same
in kind.

As intellectual, it is memory.

In judging, reason only is her name.
In speedy apprehension, it is sense.

Conscientia. In right and wrong they call her

Spiritus.

conscience;

The spirit, when it to God-ward doth inflame

These of the soul the several functions be,

Which my heart lightened by thy love doth

see.

TO THE SHADOW

XIII

LETTERS and lines we see are soon defaced Metals do waste and fret with canker's rust, The diamond shall once consume to dust, And freshest colours with foul stains disgraced; Paper and ink can paint but naked words,

To write with blood of force offends the sight; And if with tears, I find them all too light, And sighs and signs a silly hope affords. O sweetest shadow, how thou serv'st my turn ! Which still shalt be as long as there is sun, Nor whilst the world is never shall be done; Whilst moon shall shine or any fire shall burn, That everything whence shadow doth proceed, May in his shadow my love's story read.