Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought
My Storie to the sum of earthly bliss
Which I enjoy, and must fess to find
In all things else delight indeed, but such
As usd or not, works in the mind no ge, [ 525 ]
Nor vehement desire, these delicacies
I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits and Flours,
Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here
Farr otherwise, transported I behold,
Transported touch; here passion first I felt, [ 530 ]
otion strange, in all enjoyments else
Superiour and unmovd, here onely weake
Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.
Or Nature faild in mee, a some part
Not proof enough such Object to sustain, [ 535 ]
Or from my side subdug, took perhaps
More then enough; at least on her bestowd
Too much of Or, in outward shew
Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I uand in the prime end [ 540 ]
Of Nature her th inferiour, in the mind
And inward Faculties, which most excell,
In outward also her resembling less
His Image who made both, and less expressing
The character of that Dominion givn [ 545 ]
Ore other Creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so absolute she seems
And in her self pleat, so well to know
Her own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best; [ 550 ]
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her
Looses distnanct, and like folly shewes;
Authority and Reason on her waite,
As oended first, not after made [ 555 ]
Occasionally; and to mate all,
Greatness of mind and noblehir seat
Build in her loveliest, and create an awe
About her, as a guard Angelic plact.