When I behold my =Picture=, and perceive,
How vaine it is, our =Portraitures= to leave
In =Lines=, and =Shadowes=, (which make shewes, to day,
Of that which will, to morrow, fade away)
And, thinke, what meane =Resemblances= at best,
Are by =Mechanike Instruments= exprest;
I thought it better, much, to leave behind me,
Some =Draught=, in which, my living friends might find me
The same I =am=; in =that=, which will remaine,
Till all is ruin’d, and repair’d againe:
And, which, in absence, will more truely show me,
Than, =outward Formes=, to those, who think they know me.
For, though my gratious MAKER made me such,
That, where I love, belov’d I am, as much
As J desire; yet, =Forme=, nor =Features= are,
Those =Ornaments=, in which J would appeare
To =future Times=; Though they were found in me,
Farre better, than I can beleeve they be.
Much lesse, affect I =that=, which each man knowes,
To be no more, but Counterfeits of those,
Wherein, the =Painters=, or the =Gravers= toole,
Befriends alike, the =Wiseman=, and the =Foole=:
And, (when they please) can give him, by their =Art=,
The =fairest-Face=, that had the =falsest-Heart=.
A PICTVRE, though with most exactnesse made,
Is nothing, but the =Shadow= of a SHADE.
For, ev’n our =living Bodies=, (though they seeme
To others more, or more in our esteeme)
Are but the =shadowes= of that =Reall-being=,
Which doth extend beyond the =Fleshly-seeing=;
And, cannot be discerned, till we rise
=Immortall-Objects=, for =Immortall-eyes=.
Our =Everlasting-Substance= lies unseene,
Behinde the Fouldings, of a =Carnall-Screene=,
Which is, but, =Vapours= thickned into =Blood=,
(By due concoction of our daily food)
And, still supplied, out of other =Creatures=,
To keepe us =living=, by their wasted natures:
Renewing, and decaying, ev’ry Day,
Vntill that =Vaile= must be remov’d away.
For, this lov’d =Flesh=, wherewith, yet cloth’d we go,
Is not the same, wee had sev’n yeares ago;
But, rather, something which is taken-in,
To serve insteed of what hath wasted bin,
In =Wounds=, in =Sicknesses=, in =Colds=, and =Heates=,
In all =Excrescions=, and in =Fumes=, and =Sweates=.
Nor shall, this present =Flesh=, long stay with us:
And, wee may well be pleas’d, it should be =Thus=.
For, as I view, those Townes, and Fields, that be
In Landskip drawne; Even so, me thinks, I see
A Glimpes, farre off, (through FAITH’S =Prospective glasse=)
Of that, which after =Death=, will come to passe;
And, likewise, gained have, such meanes of seeing,
Some things, which were, before my =Life= had being,
That, in my =Soule=, I should be discontent,
If, this my =Body= were, more permanent;
Since, =Wee=, and all =God’s= other =Creatures=, here,
Are but the =Pictures=, of what shall appeare.
Yet, whilst they =are=, I thankfully would make
That use of them, for their CREATOR’S sake,
To which hee made them; and, preserve the =Table=,
Still, =Faire= and =Full=, as much as I were able,
By finishing, (in my alotted place)
Those =Workes=, for which, hee fits me by his Grace.
And, if a =Wrenne=, a =Wrenn’s= just height shall soare,
No =Ægle=, for an =Ægle=, can doe more.
If therefore, of my =Labours=, or of MEE,
Ought shall remaine, when I remov’d, must be,
Let it be that, wherein it may be view’d,
My MAKERS =Image=, was in me renew’d:
And, so declare, a dutifull intent,
To doe the =Worke= I came for, e’re I went;
That, I to others, may some =Patterne= be,
Of =Doing-well=, as other men to mee,
Have beene, whilst I had life: And, let my daies
Be summed up, to my =Redeemer’s= praise.
So this be gained, I regard it not,
Though, all that I am else, be quite forgot.