Is it because the mind is like the eye, Through which it gathers knowledge by degrees, Whose rays reflect not, but spread outwardly, Not seeing itself, when other things it sees? No, doubtless; for the mind can backward cast As her own image doth herself affright. As is the fable of the lady fair, Which for her sin was turned into a cow, When thirsty to a stream she did repair, And saw herself transformed, she knew not how: At first she startles, then she stands amazed; F'en so man's soul, which did God's image bear, And was, at first, fair, good, and spotless pure, Since with her sins her beauties blotted were, Doth of all sights her own sight least endure: For e'en at first reflection she espies Such strange chimeras, and such monsters there, Such toys, such antics, and such vanities, As she retires, and shrinks for shame and fear; And as the man loves least at home to be That hath a sluttish house, haunted with sprites, So she, impatient her own faults to see, Turns from herself and in strange things delights. For this few know themselves: for merchants broke And seas are troubled when they do revoke And while the face of outward things we find Yet if affliction once her wars begin, And threat the feebler sense with sword and fire, The mind contracts herself, and shrinketh in, And to herself she gladly doth retire: As spiders touched, seek their web's inmost part; As blood in danger gathers to the heart; As men seek towns when foes the country burn. If aught can teach us aught, affliction's looks (Making us pry into ourselves so near) Teach us to know ourselves beyond all books, Or all the learned schools that ever were. This mistress lately plucked me by the ear, And many a golden lesson hath me taught; Hath made my senses quick and reason clear, Reformed my will and rectified my thought. So do the winds and thunder cleanse the air; So working lees settle and purge the wine; Neither Minerva, nor the learned muse, Nor rules of art, nor precepts of the wise, Could in my brain those beams of skill infuse, As but the glance of this dame's angry eyes. She within lists my ranging mind hath brought, Only myself I study, learn, and know. I know my body's of so frail a kind, As force without, powers within, can kill; I know the heavenly nature of my mind, But 'tis corrupted both in wit and will. I know myself hath power to know all things, Yet to the least and vilest things am thrall. I know my life's a pain, and but a span ; I know my sense is mocked in every thing; And to conclude, I know myself a man, Which is a proud, and yet a wretched thing. THE SOUL. THE lights of heaven (which are the world's fair eyes) Look down into the world, the world to see; And as they turn or wander in the skies, Survey all things that on this centre be. And yet the lights which in my tower do shine, Mine eyes which view all objects nigh and far, Look not unto this little world of mine, Nor see my face wherein they fixed are. Since nature fails in us no needful thing, Why want I means my inward self to see ? Which sight the knowledge of myself might bring, Which to true wisdom is the first degree. That power which gave my eyes the world to view, To view myself infused an inward light, Whereby my soul, as by a mirror true, Of her own form may take a perfect sight. But as the sharpest eye discerneth naught Except the sunbeams in the air do shine; So the best soul with her reflecting thought Sees not herself without some light divine. Oh! Light which makest the light, which makes the day! Which settest the eye without, and mind within, Lighten my soul with one clear heavenly ray, Which now to view itself doth first begin. For her true form how can my spark discern, One thinks the soul is air; another, fire; Another, blood diffused about the heart; Another saith the elements conspire, And to her essence each doth give a part. Musicians think our souls are harmonies; Physicians hold that they complexions be; Epicures' make them swarms of atomies Which do by chance into our bodies flee. Some think our general soul fills every brain, And that we only well-mixed bodies are. In judgment of her substance thus they vary, Some thrust it down into the stomach's heat; Some place it in the root of life, the heart; Some in the river, fountain of his veins; Some say she's all in all, in every part; Some say she's not contained, but all contains. Thus these great clerks their little wisdom show, Tossing their light opinions to and fro, To mock the lewd, as learned in this as they. 1 Epicureans. 2 Ignorant. For no crazed brain could ever yet propound, Touching the soul, so vain and fond a thought; But some among these masters have been found, Which in their schools the self-same thing have taught. God, only wise, to punish pride of wit, Among men's wits hath this confusion wrought; As the proud tower whose points the clouds did hit, By tongues' confusion was to ruin brought. But Thou, which didst man's soul of nothing make, And God with God becamest a man with men." Thou that hast fashioned twice this soul of ours, To judge herself, she must herself transcend, But Thou bright morning star, Thou rising sun, Lay hid in darkness and eternal night, Thou (like the sun) dost with an equal ray This lamp through all the regions of my brain, Where my soul sits, doth spread such beams of grace, As now methinks I do distinguish plain. Each subtle line of her immortal face. |