Reason is our Soules left hand, Faith her right,
By these wee reach divinity, that's you;
Their loves, who have the blessings of your light,
Grew from their reason, mine from faire faith grew.
But as, although a squint lefthandednesse
Be'ungracious, yet we cannot want that hand,
So would I, not to encrease, but to expresse
My faith, as I beleeve, so understand.
Therefore I study you first in your Saints,
Those friends, whom your election glorifies,
Then in your deeds, accesses, and restraints,
And what you reade, and what your selfe devize.
But soone, the reasons why you'are lov'd by all,
Grow infinite, and so passe reasons reach,
Then backe againe to'implicite faith I fall,
And rest on what the Catholique voice doth teach;
That you are good: and not one Heretique
Denies it: if he did, yet you are so.
For, rockes, which high top'd and deep rooted sticke,
Waves wash, not undermine, nor overthrow.
In every thing there naturally growes
A Balsamum to keepe it fresh, and new,
If'twere not injur'd by extrinsique blowes;
Your birth and beauty are this Balme in you.
But you of learning and religion,
And vertue,'and such ingredients, have made
A methridate, whose operation
Keepes off, or cures what can be done or said.
Yet, this is not your physicke, but your food,
A dyet fit for you; for you are here
The first good Angell, since the worlds frame stood,
That ever did in womans shape appeare.
Since you are then Gods masterpeece, and so
His Factor for our loves; do as you doe,
Make your returne home gracious; and bestow
This life on that; so make one life of two.
For so God helpe mee,'I would not misse you there
For all the good which you can do me here.
[To the Countesse of Bedford. 1633-69: do. or To the
Countesse of B. B, Cy, D, H49, L74, Lec, M, N,
O'F, RP31, S, S96, TCD]
[3 blessings 1633, D, H49, Lec: blessing 1635-69,
B, Cy, L74, N, O'F, S, S96, TCD
light, 1633-69: sight, B, Cy, D, H49, L74, Lec,
N, O'F, RP31, S, TCD]
[4 faire 1633-69, L74, N, TCD: farr B, Cy, D,
H49, Lec, M, O'F, RP31, S, S96]
[16 what] that Chambers
voice 1635-69, B, Cy, D, H49, L74, Lec, M,
N, O'F, S96, TCD: faith 1633, RP31, S]
[19 high top'd and deep rooted 1633, N, TCD: high to
sense deepe-rooted 1635-54, O'F, Chambers (who has
overlooked 1633 reading:) high to sense and deepe-rooted
S96: high to sun and deepe-rooted L74, RP31, S: high
do seem, deep-rooted 1669, Cy (but MS. with and): high
to some, and deepe-rooted D, H49, Lec: high to seeme,
and deepe-rooted B. See note]
[25 But Ed: But, 1633-69]
[36 This, 1635-69, B, Cy, D, H49, L74, Lec, N,
O'F, RP31, S, TCD, Grosart and Chambers: Thy 1633,
Grolier. See note]