IDENTILIN$$  F137B32 BedfRef|Harley 4955, ff. 108v-09v\GL\P:GAS\o\6-26-95\C:JSC('95 & 7-26-00)
137.B32.0HE  %XTo the Countesse of Bedford
137.B32.001  Madame.[LM] /You haue refin'd mee; And to worthyest thinges
137.B32.002  Vertue, Art, Beauty, Fortune, now I see
137.B32.003  Rarenes, or vse, Not Nature valewe bringes, 
137.B32.004  And such, as they are circumstanc'd, they bee.
137.B32.005  Two ills can nere perplexe vs, sinne to excuse;
137.B32.006  But of two good thinges, wee may leaue, & chuse.
137.B32.007  Therefore at Court w%5ch%6 is not virtues Clyme,
137.B32.008  Where a transcendent height (as lownes mee)
137.B32.009  Makes her not bee, or not showe; All my Rime
137.B32.010  Your vertues challenge, w.%5ch%6 there rarest bee;
137.B32.011  For as darke Texts needes notes; Then some must bee
137.B32.012  To vsher vertue, and say this is shee. [CW:om]
137.B32.013  Soe in the Countrey is Beautye; To this Place [109]
137.B32.014  you are the season Madame, you the Day,
137.B32.015  Tis but a Graue of spices, till your Face
137.B32.016  Exhale them, and a thicke close Bud display.
137.B32.017  Widow'd and reclus'd else, her sweetes she'enshrines,
137.B32.018  As China when the sunne at Brasill dines.
137.B32.019  Out from your Chariott Morning breakes at Night
137.B32.020  And falsifyes both Computations so.
137.B32.021  Since a newe world doth rise here from your sight
137.B32.022  Wee your new Creatures, by new recknings goe,
137.B32.023  This showes that you from Nature lothlye stray,
137.B32.024  That suffer not an Artificiall Day.|
137.B32.025  In this you haue made the Court, the Antipodes
137.B32.026  And will'd your Delegate the vulgar sonne,
137.B32.027  To doe profane Autumnall offices;
137.B32.028  Whilst here to you, wee sacrificers runne,
137.B32.029  And wheather Priests, or Organes, you wee obay
137.B32.030  Wee sound your Influence, and your Dictates say.
137.B32.031  Yet to that Deitye w%5ch%6 dwells in you,
137.B32.032  Your vertuous soule, I now not sacrifice.
137.B32.033  These are Petitions, and not Hymns; they sue
137.B32.034  But that I may survay the Edifice.
137.B32.035  In all Religions as much Care hath bin,
137.B32.036  Of Temples, frames, and beauty as Rites w%5th%6in.
137.B32.037  As all w%5ch%6 goe to Rome, doe not therby
137.B32.038  Esteeme religions, & hold fast the best,
137.B32.039  But serue discourse, & Curiositie,
137.B32.040  W%5th%6 that w%5ch%6 doth religion but invest,
137.B32.041  And shunne th'entanglinge laborinths of Schooles,
137.B32.042  And make it witt, to thincke the wiser fooles.
137.B32.043  So in this Pilgrimage I would be holde
137.B32.044  You, as you are Vertues Temple, not as shee;
137.B32.045  What walls of tender Christall her enfolde,
137.B32.046  what Eyes, Hands, Bosome, her pure Altars bee,
137.B32.047  And after this survay, oppose to all
137.B32.048  Bablers of Chapels you th'Escuriall.
137.B32.049  Yet not as Consecrate, but meerely as fayre,
137.B32.050  On these I cast a lay, and country Eye.
137.B32.051  Of past, & future storyes, w%5ch%6 are rare,
137.B32.052  I find you all Record, all Prophecye;
137.B32.053  Purge but the booke of fate, that yt admist[sic]
137.B32.054  No sadd, nor guiltye legends, you are ytt. [CW:om]
137.B32.055  If Good, and lovely weare not one of both [109v]
137.B32.056  You weare the transcript, and Originall.
137.B32.057  The Elements, the Parent, and the Grouth
137.B32.058  And everye Peece of you, is both theyre All,
137.B32.059  So intire are all your Deedes, and you, that you
137.B32.060  Must doe the same thing still; you cannot two.
137.B32.061  But these (as nice thinne scoole Devinitee
137.B32.062  Serves Heresye to furder or represse)
137.B32.063  Tast of Poetique rage, or flatteree,
137.B32.064  And neede not, where all harts one truth professe.
137.B32.065  Oft from newe Proofes, and new Phrase, new doubts growe
137.B32.066  As strange Attire, alyens the men, wee knowe.
137.B32.067  Leaueing then busy Prayse, and all Appeale
137.B32.068  To higher Courts, Sences Decree ys true,
137.B32.069  The >Moone%>Myne<, the Magzin, the Common weale,
137.B32.070  The storye of beautye, in Twickna%M ys, and you.
137.B32.071  Who hath seene One, would both; As, who had beene
137.B32.072  In Paradise, would seeke the Cherubine.
137.B32.0SS  [om]
137.B32.0$$  %1Poem in 6-line sts of which the 2nd and 4th lines are ind 5 sp; 
title in large gothic letters.%2