University of Virginia Library

In my bed, by night, I sought him, that my soule loved: I sought him, but I found him not.

The learned Cynick, having lost the way
To honest men, did, in the height of day,
By Taper-light, divide his steps about
The peopled Streets, to find this dainty out;
But fail'd. The Cynick search'd not where he ought;
The thing he sought for was not where he sought:
The Wisemens taske seem'd harder to be done,
The Wisemen did, by Starre-light seeke the Son,
And found; the Wisemen search'd it where they ought;
The thing they hop'd to find, was where they sought:
One seeks his wishes where he should; but then
Perchance he seeks not where he should, nor when:
Another searches when he should, but there
He failes; not seeking as he should, nor where:
Whose soule desires the good it wants; and would
Obtaine, must seek Where, As, and When he should:
How often have my wilde Affections led
My wasted soule to this my widdow'd Bed,
To seeks my Lover, whom my soule desires!
(I speak not, Cupid, of thy wanton fyres;
Thy fires are all but dying sparks to mine;
My flames are full of heav'n, and all divine)
How often have I sought this Bed, by night,
To find that greater, by this lesser light!
How oft has my unwitnest groanes lamented
Thy deares absence! Ah, how often vented
The bitter Tempests of despairing breath,
And tost my soule upon the waves of death!
How often has my melting heart made choice
Of silent teares, (teares lowder than a voice)
To plead my griefe, and woo thy absent eare!
And yet thou wilt not come; thou wilt not heare:
O is thy wonted love become so cold?
Or do mine eyes not seeks thee where they should?
Why do I seek thee, if thou art not here?
Or find thee not, if thou art ev'rywhere?
I see my error; 'Tis not strange I could not
Find out my love; I sought him where I should not:
Thou art not found in downy Beds of ease;
Alas, thy musick strikes on harder keyes:
Nor art thou found by that false, feeble light
Of Natures Candle; Our Aegyptian night
Is more than common darknesse; nor can we
Expect a morning, but what breaks from Thee.
Well may my empty Bed bewaile thy losse,
When thou art lodg'd upon thy shamefull Crosse:
If thou refuse to share a Bed with me;
Wee'l never part, Ile share a Crosse with Thee.

ANSELM. in Protolog. Cap. 1.

Lord, if thou art not present, where shall I seeke thee absent? If every where, why do I not see thee present? Thou dwellest in light inaccessible; and where is that inaccessible light? Or how shall I have accesse to light inaccessible? I beseech thee, Lord, teach me to seeke thee, and show thyselfe to the seeker, because I can neither seeke thee, unlesse thou teach me, nor find thee, unlesse thou show thyselfe to me: Let me seeke the, in desiring thee, and desire thee in seeking thee: Let me find thee in loving thee, and love thee in finding thee.