Emblems With elegant figures :: :: University of Virginia Library

Frown on me shades, and let not day
Steal in a needle-pointed Ray,
To make discoveries wrap me here
In folds of night, and do not fear
The Sun's approach, so shall I find
A greater light possess my mind.

O do not, Children of the Spring!
Hither your charming odours bring
Nor with your painted smiles devise
To captivate my wandring eyes:
Th'have strayd too much, but now begin
Wholy t'employ themselves within,
What do I now on Earth? O why
Do not these members upward flie?
And force a room among the Starres
And there my great ned self disperse
As wide as thought, what do I here
Spred on soft down of Roses, there
That spangled Curtain which so wide
Dilates its lustre, shall me hide.
Mount up low thoughts and see what sweet
Reposure Heaven can beget,
Could you the least complyance frame
How should I all become one flame,
And melt in purest fires? O how
My warmed Heart would sweetly glow
And wast those dreggs of Earth that stay

Glew'd to it, then it might away
And still ascend till that it stood
Within the Centre of all good,
There prest, not overwhelm'd, with joyes
Under its burthen fresh arise,
There might it loose it self, and then
With loosing find it self agen:
There might it triumph and yet bee
Still in a Blest Captivitie,
There might it—O why do I speak
Whose humble thoughts be far too weak
To apprehend small Notions, nay
Angells be non-plus'd though the day
Break clearer on them, and they run
In Anogees more near the Sun.

But oh! what pull's me? how I shall
In the least moment headlong fall;
Now I'm on Earth again, not dight
As formerly in Springing light,
The self-same Objects please that I
Did even now as base deny,
Now what a powerfull influence
Has Beauty on my slavish sence:
How rob I Nature that I may
Her wealth upon one Cheek display,
How doth the Gyant Honour seem
Well statur'd in my fond esteem,
And Gold, that Bane of Men, I call
Not poys'nous now, but Cordiall;
Since that the worlds great eye the Sun
Has not disdain'd to make 't his own,
Now every Passion swayes and I

Tamely admit their Tyranny,
Onely with numerous sighings say
The Basest things is breathing Clay.

But sure these vapours will not e're
Draw Curtaines o're my Hemisphere.
Let it clear up and welcom day
It's lustre once again display,
Thou (O my sun!) a while maist lie
As intercepted from mine eye,
But love shall fright those Clouds, and thou
Into my purged eyes shall flow,
Which (melted by my inward fires
Which shall be blown by strong desires)
Consuming into teares shall feel
Each tear into a Pearl congeal,
And every Pearl shall be a stem
In my Celestiall Diadem.