Poems, and phancies written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected |
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 | Poems, and phancies |  |
Nature's Musical Instruments.
The Heart unto a Harp compare I may,
Passions to Strings, on which the Mind doth Play;
'Tis Harmony, when they just Time do keep;
With Notes of Peace they bring the Soul to Sleep.
Passions to Strings, on which the Mind doth Play;
'Tis Harmony, when they just Time do keep;
With Notes of Peace they bring the Soul to Sleep.
The Head unto an Organ I compare,
The Thoughts, as several Pipes, make Musick there;
Imagination's Bellows drawn, do blow
Windy Opinions, which the Thoughts make go;
The little Virg'nal Jacks, which Skip about,
Are several Fancies that run in and out.
The Thoughts, as several Pipes, make Musick there;
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Windy Opinions, which the Thoughts make go;
The little Virg'nal Jacks, which Skip about,
Are several Fancies that run in and out.
The Tongue's a Lute, strung with the Strings of Breath,
The Words as Fingers play, the Pegs are Teeth;
These moving all, a sweet soft Musick make,
Wise Sentences the Ground of Musick take;
Witty light Airs are pleasant to the Ear,
Strains of Description all delight to hear;
In Similizing Quavers lies great Art,
Flour'shes of Eloquence are a sweet part;
Stops of Reproof are used with great Skill,
Flatt'ring Division doth the Mind please still;
The Thoughts are several Tunes, which they do Play:
And thus the Mind doth pass its Time away.
The Words as Fingers play, the Pegs are Teeth;
These moving all, a sweet soft Musick make,
Wise Sentences the Ground of Musick take;
Witty light Airs are pleasant to the Ear,
Strains of Description all delight to hear;
In Similizing Quavers lies great Art,
Flour'shes of Eloquence are a sweet part;
Stops of Reproof are used with great Skill,
Flatt'ring Division doth the Mind please still;
The Thoughts are several Tunes, which they do Play:
And thus the Mind doth pass its Time away.
| Poems, and phancies | |