University of Virginia Library

[Thow Rebell vyle, come, to thy Master yeelde]

Reason.
Thow Rebell vyle, come, to thy Master yeelde;

Passion.
No Tyrant, no, myne, myne shall bee the feelde.

R.
Can Reason, then a Tyrant coumpted bee?

P.
Yf Reason will that Passyons bee not free.

R.
But Reason will, that Reason governe moste:

P.
And Passyon will that passyon rule the Roste.

R.
Youre will ys will but Reason, Reason ys:

P.
Will hathe his will, when Reasons will dothe mysse.

R.
Whome passyon leades unto his deathe, ys bent:

P.
And lett hym dye, so that hee dye content.

R.
By Nature yow, to Reason faythe hathe sworne:

P.
Not so; but Fellowlike together borne.

R.
Who passyon dothe ensewe lives in anoye;

P.
Who passyon dothe forsake, lives voyde of Joye.

R.
Passyon ys blynde, and treades an unknowne trace:

P.
Reason hathe eyes, to see his owne evell Case.

Reason.
Dare passyons then abyde in Reasons lighte?

Passyon.
And ys not Reason dym̄ed with passyons mighte?

R.
O Foolish thinge, whiche glory doest destroy.

P.
O gloryous Tytle of a Foolish Toye.

R.
Weykenes yow are, dare yow with oure strengthe feighte?

P.
Bycause, oure Weykenes weykeneth all youre mighte.

R.
O sacred Reason helpp oure vertuous Toyles?

P.
O passyon pass, on feeble Reasons spoylles.

R.
Wee with oure selves abyde a dayly stryfe:

P.
Wee gladly use the sweetenes of oure Lyfe.

R.
But, yet oure stryfe sure peace in ende dothe breede?

P.
Wee now have peace, youre peace wee doo not neede.

R.
Wee are too stronge, but, reason, seekes not blood;

P.
Whoo bee too weyke, do fayne they bee too good.

R.
Thoughe wee can not orecome, oure Cause ys Just:

P.
Lett us orecome, and lett us bee unjust.

R.
Yet, passyon yeelde, at lengthe to Reasons strooke:

P.
What shall wee wynn by taking Reasons yooke.

R.
The Joyes yow have shall bee made permanent:

P.
And so wee shall with greef Learne to repent.

R.
Repent in Deede, but, that shall bee youre Blisse:

P.
Howe knowe wee that, synce present Joyes wee misse.

R.
Yow knowe yt not, of Reason, therefore knowe yt:

P.
No Reason yet, had ever skill to showe yt.