II.

_To the Countesse of Huntington._

That unripe side of earth, that heavy clime That gives us man up now, like _Adams_ time Before he ate; mans shape, that would yet bee (Knew they not it, and fear'd beasts companie) So naked at this day, as though man there 5 From Paradise so great a distance were, As yet the newes could not arrived bee Of _Adams_ tasting the forbidden tree; Depriv'd of that free state which they were in, And wanting the reward, yet beare the sinne. 10 But, as from extreme hights who downward looks, Sees men at childrens shapes, Rivers at brookes, And loseth younger formes; so, to your eye, These (Madame) that without your distance lie, Must either mist, or nothing seeme to be, 15 Who are at home but wits mere _Atomi_. But, I who can behold them move, and stay, Have found my selfe to you, just their midway; And now must pitty them; for, as they doe Seeme sick to me, just so must I to you. 20 Yet neither will I vexe your eyes to see A sighing Ode, nor crosse-arm'd Elegie. I come not to call pitty from your heart, Like some white-liver'd dotard that would part Else from his slipperie soule with a faint groane, 25 And faithfully, (without you smil'd) were gone. I cannot feele the tempest of a frowne, I may be rais'd by love, but not throwne down. Though I can pittie those sigh twice a day, I hate that thing whispers it selfe away. 30 Yet since all love is fever, who to trees Doth talke, doth yet in loves cold ague freeze. 'Tis love, but, with such fatall weaknesse made, That it deftroyes it selfe with its owne shade. Who first look'd sad, griev'd, pin'd, and shew'd his paine, 35 Was he that first taught women, to disdaine. As all things were one nothing, dull and weake, Vntill this raw disordered heape did breake, And severall desires led parts away, Water declin'd with earth, the ayre did stay, 40 Fire rose, and each from other but unty'd, Themselves unprison'd were and purify'd: So was love, first in vast confusion hid, An unripe willingnesse which nothing did, A thirst, an Appetite which had no ease, 45 That found a want, but knew not what would please. What pretty innocence in those dayes mov'd? Man ignorantly walk'd by her he lov'd; Both sigh'd and enterchang'd a speaking eye, Both trembled and were sick, both knew not why. 50 That naturall fearefulnesse that struck man dumbe, Might well (those times consider'd) man become. As all discoverers whose first assay Findes but the place, after, the nearest way: So passion is to womans love, about, 55 Nay, farther off, than when we first set out. It is not love that sueth, or doth contend; Love either conquers, or but meets a friend. Man's better part consists of purer fire, And findes it selfe allow'd, ere it desire. 60 Love is wise here, keepes home, gives reason sway, And journeys not till it finde summer-way. A weather-beaten Lover but once knowne, Is sport for every girle to practise on. Who strives through womans scornes, women to know, 65 Is lost, and seekes his shadow to outgoe; It must bee sicknesse, after one disdaine, Though he be call'd aloud, to looke againe. Let others sigh, and grieve; one cunning sleight Shall freeze my Love to Christall in a night. 70 I can love first, and (if I winne) love still; And cannot be remov'd, unlesse she will. It is her fault if I unsure remaine, Shee onely can untie, and binde againe. The honesties of love with ease I doe, 75 But am no porter for a tedious woo. But (madame) I now thinke on you; and here Where we are at our hights, you but appeare, We are but clouds you rise from, our noone-ray But a foule shadow, not your breake of day. 80 You are at first hand all that's faire and right, And others good reflects but backe your light. You are a perfectnesse, so curious hit, That youngest flatteries doe scandall it. For, what is more doth what you are restraine, 85 And though beyond, is downe the hill againe. We'have no next way to you, we crosse to it: You are the straight line, thing prais'd, attribute; Each good in you's a light; so many a shade You make, and in them are your motions made. 90 These are your pictures to the life. From farre We see you move, and here your _Zani's_ are: So that no fountaine good there is, doth grow In you, but our dimme actions faintly shew. Then finde I, if mans noblest part be love, 95 Your purest luster must that shadow move. The soule with body, is a heaven combin'd With earth, and for mans ease, but nearer joyn'd. Where thoughts the starres of soule we understand, We guesse not their large natures, but command. 100 And love in you, that bountie is of light, That gives to all, and yet hath infinite. Whose heat doth force us thither to intend, But soule we finde too earthly to ascend, 'Till slow accesse hath made it wholy pure, 105 Able immortall clearnesse to endure. Who dare aspire this journey with a staine, Hath waight will force him headlong backe againe. No more can impure man retaine and move In that pure region of a worthy love: 110 Then earthly substance can unforc'd aspire, And leave his nature to converse with fire: Such may have eye, and hand; may sigh, may speak; But like swoln bubles, when they are high'st they break. Though far removed Northerne fleets scarce finde 115 The Sunnes comfort; others thinke him too kinde. There is an equall distance from her eye, Men perish too farre off, and burne too nigh. But as ayre takes the Sunne-beames equall bright From the first Rayes, to his last opposite: 120 So able men, blest with a vertuous Love, Remote or neare, or howsoe'r they move; Their vertue breakes all clouds that might annoy, There is no Emptinesse, but all is Ioy. He much profanes whom violent heats do move 125 To stile his wandring rage of passion, _Love_: Love that imparts in every thing delight, Is fain'd, which only tempts mans appetite. Why love among the vertues is not knowne Is, that love is them all contract in one. 130

[To the Countesse of Huntington. _1635-69_: S^{r} Wal: Ashton to y^{e} Countesse of Huntingtowne _P_, _TCD_ (_II_)]

[2 man] men _P_]

[3 ate; _1635-39_: eat; _1650-69_]

[11 downward] inward _TCD_]

[14 without] _om. TCD_]

[17 who] that _P_, _TCD_]

[20 you.] you, _1635-69_]

[26 faithfully, _1635-69_: finally _P_, _TCD_

you smil'd _1635-54_ your smile _1669_, _P_, _TCD_]

[28 down. _1635-54_: down, _1669_]

[30 whispers] whispered _P_: vapours _TCD_]

[31 fever] _feverish_ _1669_]

[32 doth yet] yet doth _1669_

ague] feaver _P_]

[35 paine,] paine. _1635-39_]

[36 women] woman _TCD_]

[37 were one] were but one _1669_]

[47 those dayes] that day _1669_]

[50 both knew _1635-54_: but knew _P_, _TCD_: yet, knew _1669_]

[52 consider'd _Ed_: considered _1635-69_]

[57 sueth, or] sues and _P_]

[65 womans] womens _P_

women] woman _TCD_

know, _1650-69_: know. _1635-39_]

[67 It must be] It is meer _1669_

sicknesse,] sicknesse _1635-69_]

[69 sigh _P_, _TCD_: sinne, _1635-69_]

[74 and _P_: I _1635-69_, _TCD_]

[76 woo. _TCD_: wooe. _P_: woe. _1635-69_, _Chambers and Grolier_]

[77 I now] now I _TCD_]

[78 hights] height _TCD_]

[79 clouds you rise from, our noone-ray _Grolier_: clouds, you rise from our noone-ray, _1635-69_, _TCD_, _and Chambers_]

[81 right] bright _P_]

[83 a perfectnesse] all perfections _P_]

[84 youngest] quaintest _TCD_

flatteries] flatterers _P_, _TCD_]

[86 though] what's _P_]

[87 We'have _Ed_: We have _1635-69_]

[88 straight line,] streight-lace _P_

attribute; _Ed_: attribute. _1635_: attribute, _1639-69_]

[91 These] Those _TCD_]

[98 With earth] _om. TCD_

but] _om. 1650-69_]

[99 thoughts] through _P_]

[105 wholy] holy _TCD_]

[106 endure.] endure _1635_]

[108 waight] weights _P_, _TCD_]

[109 impure] vapore _P_]

[114 when they're highest break. _P_, _TCD_

break.] break _1635-39_: brak _1650-54_: brake. _1669_]

[115 _In edd. new par. begins wrongly at_ 113, _and so Chambers and Grolier_

fleets] Isles _1669_]

[116 comfort; _1635-54_: sweet comfort, _1669_

others] yet some _1669_]

[119 But as the aire takes all sunbeams equall bright _P_]

[120 the first Rayes, _1635-54_: the Raies first, _1669_, _TCD_: the rise first _P_]

[121 able men _P_: able man, _1635-54_: happy man, _1669_: happy['s] man _Grosart and Chambers_]

[123 Their _1669_, _P_, _TCD_: There _1635-54_, _Chambers and Grolier_]

[125 violent _P_, _TCD_: valiant _1635-69_]

[126 _Love_: _Ed_: _Love_. _1635-54_: _Love_, _1669_]

[127 imparts] imports _1669_, _TCD_]

[128 Is fain'd, which ... appetite. _P_: Is thought the mansion of sweet appetite. _TCD_: Is fancied _1635-39_ (_rest of line left blank_): Is fancied in the Soul, not in the sight. _1650-54_: Is fancied by the Soul, not appetite. _1669_]

[130 Is, that] Is, 'cause _TCD_

contract in _1650-69_, _P_: contracted _1635-39_, _TCD_]