University of Virginia Library

Frowne on me shades, and let not day
Swell in a needle-pointed ray
To make discoveries; wrap me here
In folds of night, and doe not feare
The Suns approach, so shall I finde
A greater light possesse my minde;
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 stray'd too much, but now begin
Wholly t'employ themselves within.
What doe I now on Earth? O why
Do not these Members upward flie,
And force a roome among the Starres,
And there my greatned selfe disperse
As wide as thought? what do I here
Spread on soft downe of Roses? there
That spangled curtaine which so wide
Dilates it's lustre, shall me hide.
Mount up low thoughts and see what sweet
Reposance Heaven can beget;
Could yee the least compliance frame
How should I all become one flame,
And melt in purest fires? O how
My warmed Heart would sweetly glow,
And waste those dreggs of Earth that stay
Glew'd to it, then it might away,
And still ascend, till that it stood
Within the Center of all good;
There prest, not overwhelm'd with joyes,
Under it's burthen fresh arise;
There might it lose it selfe and then
With losing finde it selfe againe;
There might it triumph and yet be
Still in a blest captivitie.
There might it—O why doe I speake
Whose humble thoughts are far too weake,
To apprehend small notions? nay
Angels are non-plus'd, though the day
Breakes clearer on them, and they run
In Apogees more neer the Sunne.
But oh! what pulls me? how I shall
In the least moment headlong fall;
Now I'm on Earth againe not dight,
As formerly in springing light,
The selfe same objects please, that I
Did even now, as base deny:
Now what a powerfull influence
Ha's Beauty on my slavish sense,
How rob I Nature that I may
Her wealth upon my cheeke display,
How doth the Giant Honour seeme
Well statur'd in my fond esteeme;
And Gold that bane of men, I call
Not poisonous now but cordiall:
Since that the Worlds great Eye the Sunne
Ha's not disdain'd to mak't his owne;
Now every passion swayes, and I
Tamely admit their Tyranny;
Only with numerous sighings say,
The basest thing is breathing clay.

But sure these vapours will not e're
Draw Curtaines o're my Hemisphere.
Let it cleere up, and welcome day
It's lustre once againe display.
Thou (O my Sunne) a while maist lie
As intercepted from mine eye,
But Love shall fright those clouds, and thou
Into my purged eyes shalt flow,
Which (melted by my inward fires,
Which shall be blowne by strong desires)
Consuming into teares, shall feele
Each teare into a Pearle congeale,
And every Pearle shall be a stemme
In my Celestiall Diadem.