Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) :: :: University of Virginia Library

How like to threds of Flaxe
That touch the flame, are my inflam'd desires!
How like to yeelding Waxe,
My soule dissolves before these wanton fires!
The fire, but touch'd; the flame, but felt,
Like Flaxe, I burne; like Waxe, I melt.

2

O how this flesh does draw
My fetter'd soule to that deceitfull fire!
And how th'eternall Law
Is baffled by the law of my desire!
How truly bad, how seeming good
Are all the Lawes of Flesh and Blood!

3

O wretched state of Men,
The height of whose Ambition is to borrow
What must be paid agen,
With griping Int'rest of the next dayes sorrow!
How wild his Thoughts! How apt to range!
How apt to varie! Apt to change!

4

How intricate, and nice
Is mans perplexed way to mans desire!
Sometimes upon the Ice
He slips, and sometimnes fals into the fire;
His progresse is extreme and bold,
Or very hot, or very cold.

5

The common food, he doth
Sustaine his soule-tormenting thoughts withall,
Is honey, in his mouth,
To night; and in his heart, to morrow, Gall;
'Tis oftentimes, within an houre,
Both very sweet, and very sowre.

6

If sweet Corinna smile,
A heav'n of Joy breaks downe into his heart:
Corinna frownes a while?
Hels Torments are but Copies of his smart:
Within a lustfull heart does dwell
A seeming Heav'n; a very Hell.

7

Thus worthlesse, vaine and void
Of comforts, are the fruits of earths imployment;
Which, ere they be enjoyd,
Distract us; and destroy us in th'enjoyment;
These be the pleasures that are priz'd,
When heav'ns cheape pen'worth stands despis'd.

8

Lord, quench these hasty flashes,
Which dart as ligtning from the thundring skies;
And, ev'ry minit, dashes
Against the wanton windowes of mine eyes:
Lord, close the Casement, whilst I stand
Behind the curtaine of thy Hand.

S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. 4.

O thou Sonne that illuminates both Heaven and Earth: Woe be unto those eyes which do not behold thee: Woe be unto those blind eyes which cannot behold thee: Woe be unto those which turne away their eyes that they will not behold thee: Woe be unto those that turne not away their eyes that they may behold vanity.

S. CHRYS. sup. Matth. 19

What is an evill woman but the enemy of friendship, an unavoidable paine, a necessary mischiefe, a naturall tentation, a desiderable calamity, a domestick danger, a delectable inconvenience, and the nature of evill painted over with the colour of good!