University of Virginia Library

previous section Emblems With elegant figures
next section
89

[How come's this chrystall liquor, which before]

Who against hope, believed in hope. Rom. 4. vers. 18.

1

How come's this chrystall liquor, which before
Crept through the aufractuous cavern of the earth,
To mount aloft? and so directly soar
As if ashamed of so mean a birth,
And so would force it self among the clouds,
From whence it first ran down in woolley flouds,

2

Can wise Philosophie, which can reveal
Unto the sence most hidden mysteries;
Unriddle this strange Theoreme? and tell
Whence such a hidden cause retired lies?
In nature such strange operation is
As sometimes teacheth fools, & blinde's the wise.

3

I'st cause some sulphure lurk's in privie veines,
And make's the wanton water boyl above?
Or doth the unconstant Oceans trembling plain
In its diurnall reflux hither move?
And forcing passage fill the spring-head so
That the imprison'd waves do upward go;
90

4

What ere it is, learn (soul!) by this to scorn
The poor and humble dwellings of the earth,
Be on thy own wings, up to heaven born
And gain rest there, where thou had'st first thy birth
Although that here below thou think'st th'art free,
Thy freedomes but a glorious slavery.

5

Learn to believe impossibilities,
(Such as are so to reason, not to hope)
To pose thy sence, and contradict thine eyes
To set in darkness, and in light to grope;
Struggle with that, which doth least easie seem
A little child can swim along the stream.

6

This is the way; heaven stand's on high, and those
Who would go thither, must be sure to clime
Labor in this is easie, wh' ould not chose
To gain a scepter, with a wearied lim;
Virtue is ever proudest in her toyles
And think's thick showres of sweat her greatest spoyles
91

Epigram 3.

If to the heavens thou wouldst thy sight direct,
Thy stubborn reason unto faith subject.
Nor canst thou else with humane mists dispēse:
For reason sees but with the eyes of sense.
previous section Emblems With elegant figures
next section