IDENTILIN$$ F13800C|1639|pp. 167-69\JH copied A\4-17-91\P:EWS\o(C[KeynesB.4.8])\5-31-00\C:JMK\3-8-01;JSC\8-22-01\P:DAS\cd(MH)\2-20-02\C:JSC\4-21-03\p:mvf\TxAM\04-14-08 138.00C.0HE %X%1To the Countesse of Bedford%2. 138.00C.001 T%+'Have written then, when you writ, seem'd to me 138.00C.002 Worst of spirituall vices, Simony: 138.00C.003 And not t'have written then, seemes little lesse 138.00C.004 Than worst of civill vices, thanklesnesse. 138.00C.005 In this, my doubt I seem'd loath to confesse, 138.00C.006 In that, I seem'd to shunne beholdingnesse. 138.00C.007 But 'tis not so, %1nothings%2, as I am, may 138.00C.008 Pay all they have, and yet have all to pay. 138.00C.009 Such borrow in their payments, and owe more 138.00C.010 By having leave to write so, than before. 138.00C.011 Yet since rich mines in barren grounds, are showne, 138.00C.012 May not I yeeld (not gold but) coale or stone? 138.00C.013 Temples were not demolish'd, though prophane: 138.00C.014 Here %1Peter%2, %1Ioves%2; there %1Paul%2 hath %1Dian's%2 Fane. 138.00C.015 So whether my hymns you admit or chuse, 138.00C.016 In me you'have hallowed a Pagan Muse, 138.00C.017 And denizend a stranger, who mis-taught 138.00C.018 By blamers of the times they mard, hath sought 138.00C.019 Vertues in corners, which now bravely doe 138.00C.020 Shine in the worlds best part, or all It; you. 138.00C.021 I have beene told, that vertue'in Courtiers hearts 138.00C.022 Suffers an Ostracisme, and departs. 138.00C.023 Profit, ease, fitnesse, plenty, bid it goe, 138.00C.024 But whither, onely knowing you, I know; 138.00C.025 Your, or you vertue, two vast uses serves, 138.00C.026 It ransomes one sexe, and one Court preserves; [CW:There's] 138.00C.027 There's nothing but your worth, which being true, [p.168] 138.00C.028 Is knowne to any other, not to you. 138.00C.029 And you can never know it; To admit 138.00C.030 No knowledge of your worth, is some of it. 138.00C.031 But since to you, your praises discords bee, 138.00C.032 Stoop others ills, to meditate with mee. 138.00C.033 Oh! to confesse we know not what we should, 138.00C.034 Is halfe excuse, we know not what we would. 138.00C.035 Lightnesse depresseth us, emptinesse fils, 138.00C.036 We sweat and faint, yet still goe downe the hils; 138.00C.037 As new Philosophy arrests the Sunne, 138.00C.038 And bids the passive earth about it runne, 138.00C.039 So we have dull'd our minde, it hath no ends; 138.00C.040 Onely the bodie's busie, and pretends. 138.00C.041 As dead low earth ecclipses and controules 138.00C.042 The quick high Moone: so doth the body, Soules. 138.00C.043 In none but us, are such mixt engines found, 138.00C.044 As hands of double office: For, the ground 138.00C.045 We till with them; and them to heaven we raise; 138.00C.046 Who prayer-lesse labours, or, without this, prayes, 138.00C.047 Doth but one half, that's none; He which said, %1Plough%2 138.00C.048 %1And%2 %1looke%2 %1not%2 %1back%2, to looke up doth allow. 138.00C.049 Good seed degenerates, and oft obeyes 138.00C.050 The soyles disease, and into cockle strayes. 138.00C.051 Let the mindes thoughts be but transplanted so, 138.00C.052 Into the body, and bastardly they grow. 138.00C.053 What hate could hurt our bodies like our love? 138.00C.054 We but no forraigne tyrants could remove, 138.00C.055 These not ingrav'd, but inborne dignities 138.00C.056 Caskets of soules; Temples, and Palaces. 138.00C.057 For, bodies shall from death redeemed bee, 138.00C.058 Soules but preserv'd, borne naturally free; [CW:As] 138.00C.059 As men to'our prisons now, soules to us are sent, [p.169] 138.00C.060 Which learne vice there, and come in innocent. 138.00C.061 First seeds of every creature are in us, 138.00C.062 What ere the world hath bad, or precious, 138.00C.063 Mans body can produce, hence hath it beene 138.00C.064 That stones, wormes, frogs, and snakes in man are \(seene: 138.00C.065 But who ere saw, though nature can worke so, 138.00C.066 That pearle, or gold, or corne in man did grow? 138.00C.067 We have added to the world Virginia,'and sent 138.00C.068 Two new starres lately to the firmament; 138.00C.069 Why grudge we us (not heaven) the dignitie 138.00C.070 T'increase with ours those faire soules company? 138.00C.071 But I must end this letter, though it doe 138.00C.072 Stand on two truths, neither is true to you. 138.00C.073 Vertue hath some perversenesse; For shee will 138.00C.074 Neither beleeve her good, nor others ill, 138.00C.075 Even in you vertues best paradise, 138.00C.076 Vertue hath some, but wise degrees of vice. 138.00C.077 Too many vertues, or too much of one 138.00C.078 Begets in you unjust suspition. 138.00C.079 And ignorance of vice, make vertue lesse, 138.00C.080 Quenching compassion of our wretchednesse. 138.00C.081 But these are riddles; some aspersion 138.00C.082 [l.c.]of vice becomes well some complexion. 138.00C.083 Statesmen purge vice with vice, and may corrode 138.00C.084 The bad with bad, a spider with a toad: 138.00C.085 For so, ill thrals not them, but they tame ill 138.00C.086 And make her doe much good against her will, 138.00C.087 But in your Common-wealth, or world in you, 138.00C.088 Vice hath no office, or good worke to doe. 138.00C.089 Take then no vicious purge, but be content 138.00C.090 With cordiall vertue, your knowne nourishment. [CW:%1To%2] 138.00C.0SSom 138.00C.0$$ No sts; no ind; in MH/cd copy: "," after "ills" in l.32 barely prints, as faint line