from Poems from the Dobell Folio
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2015
That Custom is a Second Nature, we
Most Plainly find by Natures Purity.
For Nature teacheth Nothing but the Truth.
I'me Sure mine did in my Virgin Youth:
The very Day my Spirit did inspire,
The Worlds fair Beauty set my Soul on fire.
My Senses were Informers to my Heart,
The Conduits of his Glory Power and Art.
His Greatness Wisdom Goodness I did see,
His Glorious Lov, and his Eternitie,
Almost as soon as Born: and evry Sence
Was in me like to som Intelligence.
I was by Nature prone and apt to love
All Light and Beauty, both in Heaven above,
And Earth beneath, prone even to Admire,
Adore and Prais as well as to Desire.
My Inclinations raisd me up on high,
And guided me to all Infinitie.
A Secret self I had enclosd within,
That was not bounded with my Clothes or Skin,
Or terminated with my Sight, the Sphere
Of which was bounded with the Heavens here:
But that did rather, like the Subtile Light,
Securd from rough and raging Storms by Night,
Break through the Lanthorns sides, and freely ray
Dispersing and Dilating evry Way:
Whose Steddy Beams too Subtile for the Wind,
Are such, that we their Bounds can scarcely find.
It did encompass, and possess rare Things,
But yet felt more, and on its Angels Wings
Pierc'd through the Skies immediatly, and Sought
For all that could beyond all Worlds be thought.
It did not move, nor one way go, but stood,
And by Dilating of it self, all Good
It strove to see, as if twere present there,
Even while it present stood conversing here:
And more suggested then I could discern,
Or ever since by any Means could learn.
Vast unaffected Wonderfull Desires,
Like Inward, Nativ, uncausd, hidden fires,
Sprang up with Expectations very strange,
Which into New Desires did quickly change.
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