University of Virginia Library

A Dialogue betwixt the Flesh, and the Spirit.

Fle.
Come prethee leave this reading; let me hear
Some jests, or wanton tales, then shall my ear
Be link'd unto your Oratory, now
I am so dull, and drowsie, that (I vow)
I can no more give audience, what dost call
This petty Book thou art so pleas'd withall?

(Spi.)
It is the cure of souls, and it contains
Our life or death, our glory, or our pains.
Here's the great Law of God, where man may view
What he ought most to covet, most eschew;
The glass of purity, where mighty Kings
Behold their bodies to be earthen things;
And (with the wisest wise man) lowdly cry,
All worldly honors are but vanity:
Here is thy first Creation, where 'tis shown
How thou and I first met, and joyn'd in one;
This shews the state we liv'd in, how we were
Blest with the plenty of a pregnant year
The Husbandman nere toyl'd for: there we knew
No hate, no strife, nor where black Malice grew:
We had no envious Neighbours, but were free
From doing, or receiving injury;
The Beasts were made your subjects; and as true
Unto each other, as they were to you:
They had no Civil Wars, no envy neither,
For Wolves & Lambs might eat their meat together:
They liv'd secure within their proper holes,
And Lions did disdain to tread on Moles:
This was thy Paradise, where all was free
Unto thy use, but one excluded Tree;
Where thou hadst liv'd till now, had Gods Command
Prevail'd with thee before the womans hand:
Under what misery doth poor man groan,
When as the flesh must suffer for the bone?
This is the Bible which I read; by this
I hope to tread the perfect path to bliss.

Fle.
What kind of bliss I pray?

Spi.
Heaven.

Fle.
What's that?

Spi.
A City built fot the Regenerate:
So scituate, that neither Sun nor Moon
Need rise or sot to make it night or noon:
They both are useless, light and brightness there,
Are not confin'd in Centre, or in Sphere:
Each Angel's face is more resplendent fair,
Then Phœbus when he guilds the Western Ayr:
The sacred Citizens do never fear
The furious famine of a fruitless year,
They live in such sweet plenty; and where none
Need fly the City from infection;
Ther's no defraud, no greedy great man plyes
The good Kings ear for base Monopolies,
For his peculiar gain; the poorer sort
Nere suffer for the Riot of the Court.
This is that place of Bliss, who more would know,
Must first crave Faith, he may believe it so:

Fle.
The place is fraught with Glory; there is more
Essential joy, then I e're heard before:
But, tell me one thing (pray) May we not there
Enjoy our Mistrisses, as we do here?
Kiss and imbrace them? May we not drink high?
Swagger and roar?

Spi.
No, 'tis Impiety.
'Tis that which ruines Earth; when you are there
You'l feel no spark of such prophane desire,
That's no true heaven, but a fained one,
By Mahomet in his black Alcoron.

Fle.
Thou know'st (dear Spirit) that I long have lov'd
Fair Jesabel.

Spi.
An Harlot most ayprov'd.

Fle.
A sweet unblemish'd Beauty, in each eye
An Angel sits.

Spi.
Beware Idolatry.

Fle.
Shall I not meet her there?

Spi.
Yes, if from me
Ye both will take advice.

Fle.
Most willingly.

Spi.
Repent.

Fle.
What's that?

Spi.
A thing ye both must know;
Or els nor you, nor she can thither go:
Joyn both your hands, then (with as great desire
As e're ye met) disjoyn, part, and retire:
Weep, sigh, and wring your hands, not that ye part,
But 'cause ye met together.

Fle.
Oh! my heart!

Spi.
It must be done, then to your Chambers goe
To Kneele, and Pray ye may continue so;
Now she seems fair, but then you'l think her fowle
As is an Ethiop, both in face and Soul.

Fle.
Not for a thousand worlds, these Eyes I weare
I cherish, 'cause they tell me she is faire;
For nothing I adore th' Omnipotence
Of my Creator, more then this one sence,
Which shewes her Beauty, and so much I prize,
That I could wish all sences e'ls were Eyes:
Had Argus seen this object, Sleep had never
Gave Hermes power to make him sleep for ever:
Not though his oaten reed were as acute,
In Art and sweetness as Apollo's Lute;
When underneath his lovely Daphne he
Sate sweetly warbling forth her Elegie.

Spi.
He vvhom you do adore, for that one sence
Dispos'd it not unto that End, from thence
Nere came an ill effect, He nere gave eyes
To be adult'rate vvith Idolatryes.

Fle.
Novv let thy resolution be as free
To answer one thing I shall question thee;
I'le tell thee hovv thy Counsell thrives.

Spi.
Say on,
I freely grant thee my attention.

Fle.
'Tis thus then, may not some familiar friend
Conveigh my mind in Letters?

Spi.
To vvhat end?
'Tis ill to think on her, vvould you reveale
Your sinfull thoughts, under your Hand and Seale?
Think (when you are a happy Convert) how
The fatal Legend will discourage you.

Fle.
Then Iesabel farewel; Oh! how her Name
Creates in me an unexpiring flame,
'Tis a strange Riddle I should part with thee,
And from thy presence find felicity,
A thing I will not credit, therefore cease
Vain Spirit; so to interrupt the peace
'Twixt me and my fair Love, I will be gone
To reunite my first affection:
Tell fools your tales of heaven, all is hell,
That doth not appertain to Iesabel.