IDENTILIN$$ F136H05|ms. 966.4 (Dobell)|ff. 164-65|pp.329-31\KJH\mf\7-19-94\P:DF\o\3-9-01\C:JSC\4-16-01
136.H05.HE1 %XTo the Countesse of Bedford. [numbered 188]
136.H05.001 Honour is soe sublime perfection,
136.H05.002 and soe refin'd, that when God was alone
136.H05.003 and Creature-lesse, at first himselfe had none.
136.H05.004 But as of th' elements, these w%5ch%6 we tread
136.H05.005 produce all thinges, with w%5ch%6 w' are ioy'd or fed,
136.H05.006 and those are barren both aboue our head:
136.H05.007 Soe from lowe persons doth all honour flowe;
136.H05.008 kings, whome they would haue honour'd, to vs shewe,
136.H05.009 and but direct our honour, not bestowe.
136.H05.010 for when from hearbs the pure parts must be wonne
136.H05.011 from grosse, by stillinge; this is better done
136.H05.012 by despisd' dunge, then by the fire or sunne.
136.H05.013 Care not then, Lady, howe lowe your prayer ly;
136.H05.014 in Labourers Ballads oft more piety
136.H05.015 God findes, then in Te Deum's Melody.
136.H05.016 And Ordinance raysd' on Towres, soe many mile
136.H05.017 send not theire voyce; nor last soe longe a while,
136.H05.018 as fires fro%M th' earths lowe vaults in Sicill Ile.
136.H05.019 Should I say, I liu'd darker then were true,
136.H05.020 your radiation can all cloudes subdue
136.H05.021 but one; 'tis best light to contemplate you.
136.H05.022 You, for whose body, God made better clay,
136.H05.023 or tooke Soules stuffe, such as will late decay,
136.H05.024 or such as needs small change at the last day.
136.H05.025 This, as an Amber drop, enwraps a Bee, [f.164v/p.330]
136.H05.026 coveringe, discouers your quicke soule; that we
136.H05.027 may in your through face, your harts thoughts see.
136.H05.028 you teach, though we learne not, a thinge vnknowne
136.H05.029 to our late times, the vse of specular stone
136.H05.030 through w%5ch%6 all thinges within, without were showne.
136.H05.031 Of such were Temples: soe and such %Y***%Zyou are,
136.H05.032 beinge and seeming is your equall care
136.H05.033 and vertues whole sum%Me is, but knowe and dare.
136.H05.034 Discretion is a wise-mans Soule; and soe
136.H05.035 Relligion is a Christians; and you knowe
136.H05.036 howe these are one; her yea, is not her Noe.
136.H05.037 But as our soules of growth and soules of sence
136.H05.038 haue byrth-right of our reason soule, yet hence
136.H05.039 they fly not from that, nor seeke Precedence:
136.H05.040 Natures first lesson, soe, Discretion
136.H05.041 must not grudge zeale a place, nor yet keepe none;
136.H05.042 nor banish it selfe, nor Relligion.
136.H05.043 Nor may we hope to sowder still and knitt
136.H05.044 these two, and dare to breake them; nor must witt,
136.H05.045 but Colleague to Relligion, be it.
136.H05.046 In those poore types of God, round Circles; soe
136.H05.047 Relligions types, the piece-lesse Centers flowe,
136.H05.048 and are in all the lines, w%5ch%6 all wayes goe.
136.H05.049 yf euer eythir wrought in you alone, [f.165/p.331]
136.H05.050 or Principally, then Relligion
136.H05.051 wrought your endes, and your wayes Discretion.
136.H05.052 Goe thither still; goe the same way you went,
136.H05.053 who ere would change, doe couet or repent,
136.H05.054 neyther can reach you, Greate and Innocent.
136.H05.0SS [Scribal grape design]
136.H05.0$$ %1Divided into tercets by space; l. 24 has Balam's scrawl after, 
making it look like more of the same line; false start in l. 31 looks like 
%Yare%Z, but not definite --DF/o%2